PEP 685: Comparison of extra names for optional distribution dependencies

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+pep-0685.rst  @brettcannon
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pep-0685.rst

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+PEP: 685
+Title: Comparison of extra names for optional distribution dependencies
+Author: Brett Cannon <[email protected]>
+Discussions-To: https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-685-comparison-of-extra-names-for-optional-distribution-dependencies/14141
+Status: Draft
+Type: Standards Track
+Content-Type: text/x-rst
+Created: 08-Mar-2022
+Post-History: 08-Mar-2022
+
+
+Abstract
+========
+
+This PEP specifies how to normalize `distribution _extra_ <Provides-Extra_>`_
+names when performing comparisons.
+This prevents tools from either failing to find an extra name or
+accidentally matching against an unexpected name.
+
+
+Motivation
+==========
+
+The `Provides-Extra`_ core metadata specification says that an extra's
+name "must be a valid Python identifier".
+:pep:`508` says that the value of an ``extra`` marker may contain a
+letter, digit, or any one of ``.``, ``-``, or ``_`` after the initial character.
+Otherwise there is no other specification at https://packaging.python.org
+which outlines how extra names should be written or normalization for comparison.
+Due to the amount of packaging-related code out there,
+it is important to evaluate current practices by the community and
+standardize on a practice that doesn't break most code while being
+something tool authors can agree to following.
+
+The issue of no standard was brought forward via the discussion at
+https://discuss.python.org/t/what-extras-names-are-treated-as-equal-and-why/7614
+where the extra ``adhoc-ssl`` was not considered equal to the name
+``adhoc_ssl`` by pip.
+
+
+Rationale
+=========
+
+:pep:`503` specifies how to normalize distribution names:
+``re.sub(r"[-_.]+", "-", name).lower()``.
+This collapses any run of the substitution character down to a single
+character,
+e.g. ``---`` gets collapsed down to ``-``.
+This does not produce a valid Python identifier as specified by the
+core metadata specification for extra names.
+
+`Setuptools does normalization <https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/blob/b2f7b8f92725c63b164d5776f85e67cc560def4e/pkg_resources/__init__.py#L1324-L1330>`__
+via ``re.sub('[^A-Za-z0-9.-]+', '_', name).lower()``.
+The use of an underscore/``_`` differs from PEP 503's use of a
+hyphen/``-``.
+Runs of characters, unlike PEP 503, do **not** get collapsed,
+e.g. ``___`` stays the same.
+
+For pip, its
+"extra normalisaton behaviour is quite convoluted and eratic",
+and so its use is not considered.
+
+
+Specification
+=============
+
+[Describe the syntax and semantics of any new language feature.]
+
+When comparing extra names, tools MUST normalize the names being compared
+using the equivalent semantics of
+``re.sub('[^A-Za-z0-9.-]+', '_', name).lower()``.
+This normalizes any extra name previously allowed by :pep:`508` in a
+consistent fashion with setuptools.
+
+For tools writing `core metadata`_,
+they MUST write out extra names in their normalized form.
+This applies to the ``Provides-Extra`` field and the ``Provides-Dist``
+field both when specifying extras for a distribution as well as the
+``extra`` marker.
+This will also help enforce the curren requirement from the core
+metadata specification that extra names be valid Python identifiers.
+
+Tools generating metadata MUST also raise an error if a user specified
+two or more extra names which would normalize to the same name.
+
+
+Backwards Compatibility
+=======================
+
+Older distributions which contain conflicting names when normalized
+will no longer have all of their extra names made available to users
+as independent options, but instead as a single extra.
+It is hoped that relying on setuptools' algorithm for normalization
+will minimize the breakage from this.
+
+As distributions make new releases using tools which implement this
+PEP,
+the backwards-compatibility issues will become less of a concern.
+
+
+Security Implications
+=====================
+
+It is possible that a distribution has conflicting extra names and a
+tool ends up installing distributions that somehow weaken the security
+of the system.
+This is only hypothetical and if it were to occur it would probably be
+more of a security concern for the distributions involved more than
+the distribution that pulled them in together.
+
+
+How to Teach This
+=================
+
+This should be transparent to users on a day-to-day basis.
+It will be up to tools to educate/stop users when they select extra
+names which conflict.
+
+
+Reference Implementation
+========================
+
+No reference implementation is provided,
+but the expectation is the `packaging project`_ will provide a
+function in its ``packaging.utils`` that will implement extra name
+normalization.
+It will also implement extra name comparisons appropriately.
+Finally, if the project ever gains the ability to write out metadata,
+it will also implement this PEP.
+
+
+Rejected Ideas
+==============
+
+Normalize names according to PEP 503
+------------------------------------
+
+For backwards-compatibility concerns,
+it was decided not to follow :pep:`503` and how it normalizes
+distribution names.
+
+
+Open Issues
+===========
+
+N/A
+
+
+Copyright
+=========
+
+This document is placed in the public domain or under the
+CC0-1.0-Universal license, whichever is more permissive.
+
+
+.. _core metadata: https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/specifications/core-metadata/
+.. _packaging project: https://packaging.pypa.io
+.. _Provides-Extra: https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/specifications/core-metadata/#provides-extra-multiple-use
+