plistlib’s output is currently byte-for-byte identical to Apple’s, except arrays and dictionaries are stored with self-closing tags (e.g. '<array/>') and plistlib outputs empty tags with a newline (e.g. '<array>\n</array>').

This tiny patch makes its output for empty arrays and dictionaries consistent with the OS’s.

Sidney, would you mind adding a regression test for both cases?

Ned, Ronald what's your take on this?

The patch looks fine, but as you noticed there should be a test case for this.

I'm -1 w.r.t. applying this to 3.2 or 2.7, it is a functional change that isn't a bug (Apple's libraries will happily read empty arrays that are written as <array></array>).

Sidney: Would you be willing to sign the contributor agreement? The following page contains more information on the agreement: http://www.python.org/psf/contrib/

Hynek: Here you go!

Ronald: Emailed it in on Friday.

The patch LGTM, but Pam seemed to have problems to find your account (http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-committers/2012-May/002037.html) – did you get the reply and followed up on that?

New changeset 9e64084f9980 by Hynek Schlawack in branch 'default':
#14835: Make plistlib output empty arrays & dicts like OS X
http://hg.python.org/cpython/rev/9e64084f9980

Thank you for your contribution!

But please help Pam to work out your contribution form.

Thanks Hynek, awesome! It looks like it’s in now.