[Python-Dev] PEP: Extending the buffer protocol to share array information.

Wed Nov 1 22:46:29 CET 2006

Chris Barker wrote:
> While /F suggested we get off the PIL bandwagon

I suggest we drop the obsession with pointers to memory areas that are 
supposed to have a specific format; modern data access API:s don't work 
that way for good reasons, so I don't see why Python should grow a 
standard based on that kind of model.
the "right solution" for things like this is an *API* that lets you do 
things like:
 view = object.acquire_view(region, supported formats)
 ... access data in view ...
 view.release()
and, for advanced users
 format = object.query_format(constraints)
</F>