# PEP 713: Callable Modules

**URL:** <https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127>\
**Category:** PEPs\
**Created:** [April 23, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127 "2023-04-23T20:31:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrenBarn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@BrenBarn](https://discuss.python.org/u/BrenBarn)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/82 "2023-08-14T06:46:07Z")

</div>

> [@oscarbenjamin](#):
>
> I think that this is the major weakness of the PEP. Early on it was conflated with a separate proposal (that I would support) to allow ` __setattr__ ` for modules.

I agree with this. Of all the dunders that might be useful for modules, ` __call__ ` seems like an odd one to start with. I’d actually be more receptive to a generic argument for supporting all normal customizable dunders than for just supporting ` __call__ ` on its own.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davidism](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/davidism/32/3295_2.png) [@davidism](https://discuss.python.org/u/davidism)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/83 "2023-08-14T14:38:58Z")

</div>

When discussing this or any other PEP, be sure to _read_ the PEP first, and discus its technical merits. Don’t start discussing other ideas or expanding the scope of the PEP, as then the discussion goes off topic discussing the merits of _those_ ideas instead of the PEP.

PEP 713 is very small. It acknowledges that a module can already be made callable. It exists because it wants a standard way for type checkers to recognize that. It does not suggest adding it to any particular modules. It does not suggest adding other special methods to modules.

The PEP author has indicated to me that this discussion is no longer about the PEP itself, and is unhelpful towards the goal of improving the PEP or moving it towards the approval process. At this point, they’ll submit it to the SC if and when they feel ready to do so.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davidism](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/davidism/32/3295_2.png) [@davidism](https://discuss.python.org/u/davidism)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/84 "2023-08-14T14:39:02Z")

</div>

Closed on August 14, 2023, 2:39pm UTC



---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![davidism](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/davidism/32/3295_2.png) [@davidism](https://discuss.python.org/u/davidism)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/85 "2023-09-05T13:50:13Z")

</div>

Opened on September 5, 2023, 1:50pm UTC



---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gpshead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discuss.python.org/gpshead/32/54_2.png) [@gpshead](https://discuss.python.org/u/gpshead)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/86 "2023-09-05T21:56:20Z")

</div>

“”" Hi, thanks for writing up the nice PEP spawning the lively discussion around callable modules.

The steering council has discussed this PEP and decided to Reject it. (as I mentioned we were leaning towards in [PEP 713: Callable Modules - #66 by gpshead](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127/66))

We didn’t feel that there was a compelling reason to have it even though it clearly could be done from a consistency point of view. I wouldn’t be surprised if this idea comes up again in the future. If so, this is a useful prior discussion to refer to for when it does.

– The Python Steering Council  
“”" - [PEP 713 -- Callable Modules · Issue #191 · python/steering-council · GitHub](https://github.com/python/steering-council/issues/191#issuecomment-1705562126)

* * *

Tangentially related in the “modules gaining more dunder function abilities” theme… [a new proposal regarding ` __setattr__ ` and ` __delattr__ `](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-726-module-setattr-and-delattr/32640) is now also being discussed.

[Previous page](https://discuss.python.org/t/pep-713-callable-modules/26127.md?page=4)
