Python-Dev thread [0], summary below:

> As you may have noticed, Enums are starting to pop up all
> over the stdlib [1].
>
> To facilitate transforming existing module constants to
> IntEnums there is `IntEnum._convert_`.  In Issue36548 [2]
> Serhiy modified the __repr__ of RegexFlag:
>
>   >>> import re
>   >>> re.I
>   re.IGNORECASE
>
> I think for converted constants that that looks nice.
>  For anyone that wants the actual value, it is of course
> available as the `.value` attribute:
>
>   >>> re.I.value
>   2
>
> I'm looking for arguments relating to:
>
> - should _convert_ make the default __repr__ be
>   module_name.member_name?
>
> - should _convert_ make the default __str__ be the same,
>   or be the numeric value?

After discussions with Guido I made a (largely done) PR [3] which:

for stdlib global constants (such as RE)
   - repr() -> uses `module.member_name`
   - str() -> uses `member_name`

for stdlib non-global constants, and enums in general
   - repr() -> uses `class.member_name`
   - str() -> uses `member_name`

The questions I would most appreciate an answer to at this point:

- do you think the change has merit?
- why /shouldn't/ we make the change?

As a reminder, the underlying issue is trying to keep at least the stdlib Enum representations the same for those that are replacing preexisting constants.


[0] https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-dev@python.org/message/CHQW6THTDYNPPFWQ2KDDTUYSAJDCZFNP/

[1] I'm working on making their creation faster.  If anyone wanted to convert EnumMeta to C I would be grateful.

[2] https://bugs.python.org/issue36548

[3] https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/22392