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[Python-Dev] Re: Capabilities

Guido van Rossum guido@python.org
Sat, 08 Mar 2003 08:29:58 -0500 
> What I am trying to nail down is exactly what needs doing to get us
> from where we are now to where capabilities actually work. As I
> understand it, what is needed is:
> 
> a) Fix restricted execution, which is in a state of disrepair

Yes.

> b) Override import, open (and other stuff? what?)

Don't worry about this; it's taken care of by the rexec module; each
application will probably want to do this a little differently
(certainly Zope has its own way).

> c) Wrap or replace some of the existing libraries, certify that others 
> are "safe"

This should only be necessary for (core and 3rd party) extension
modules.  The rexec module has a framework for this.

> It looks to me like a and b are shared with proxies, and c would be 
> different, by definition. Is there anything else? Am I on the wrong track?

I don't know why you think (c) is different.

> I am going to write this all up into a document which can be used as a 
> starting point for work to complete this.

Excellent.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)