Pickles: Why did they call it that?

Question

I am surprised that this is such a difficult answer for me.

This is such a strange name. Why are pickles called pickles?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickle_(Python)

I understand what “pickling” means in relation to vegetables, and I understand that the concept of python is similar. But why choose "pickle" instead of "serialization"? Is this an internal joke? Is there a story about this?

Answer 1

From the verb pickle :

vegetables such as cauliflower, onions, etc. are stored in vinegar, brine, etc.

These are Python objects saved for later use. The name was taken from the concept of Modula-3 , a language that inspired many of Python's features. Also see Module-3 Pickle Documentation.

I suspect that Guido chose this name because:

• this is better than the first name he thought (to smooth it out, see this old usenet post announcing this )
• funny names are better than grays in the tradition with the Monty Python background.
• good alliteration occurs with P ( P ython P ).
• you put pickles (in jars) on the shelve , a module is added that is added to the library in the same commit .

If you ever get hold of the Guido time machine , you can go back to November 1994 and ask him why he chose this particular name. I notice that Ken Mannheimer already uses the term “pickled objects” just 10 days after the flatten announcement in the ensuing discussion, probably referring to the inspiring module-3 for the concept , and the name should be stuck.