Backport of several functions from Python 3.0 to 2.6 including PyUnicode_FromString, PyUnicode_Format and PyLong_From/AsSsize_t. The functions are partly required for the backport of the bytearray type and _fileio module. They should also make it easier to port C to 3.0.
First chapter of the Python 3.0 io framework back port: _fileio
The next step depends on a working bytearray type which itself depends on a backport of the nwe buffer API.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index f2a6f77..d883038 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-+++++++++++
++++++++++++
Python News
+++++++++++
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
Core and builtins
-----------------
+- Backport of PyUnicode_FromString(), _FromStringAndSize(), _Format and
+ _FormatV from Python 3.0. Made PyLong_AsSsize_t and PyLong_FromSsize_t
+ public functions.
+
- Issue #1920: "while 0" statements were completely removed by the compiler,
even in the presence of an "else" clause, which is supposed to be run when
the condition is false. Now the compiler correctly emits bytecode for the
@@ -1102,6 +1106,8 @@
Extension Modules
-----------------
+- Backport of _fileio module from Python 3.0.
+
- #1087741: mmap.mmap is now a class, not a factory function. It is also
subclassable now.