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I knew what this module is for, I just don't know why they choose this name - shutil. It is hard to remember this kind of "random" name if I don't know where it come from. Please give me some hints, thanks.

djvg
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Justin
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1 Answers1

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It means "shell utilities", sh standing for shell, util standing for utilities.

If you think about what shutil does, that makes sense (manipulate the filesystem, make archives, etc.).

Rafe Kettler
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  • Maybe the module could have been named sh_utils to make it more clear. @Rafe Good and clear explanation – Kurt Pattyn Mar 10 '11 at 18:18
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    @KornP that wouldn't fit with typical naming conventions for modules. – Rafe Kettler Mar 10 '11 at 18:26
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    Well, yes and no. This is what I read in PEP8 regarding module names: "Modules should have short, all-lowercase names. Underscores can be used in the module name if it improves readability." But it is not that important. – Kurt Pattyn Mar 10 '11 at 18:31
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    @KornP not so much based on PEP8 but based on the way that modules in the standard library are named. But yes, you are correct. – Rafe Kettler Mar 10 '11 at 18:32