为什么这个模块中的文本是 ROT13 编码的？

Question

如果我们打开 Python 解释器并输入 import this，如您所知，它会将 Python 的 Zen 打印到控制台中。来自 Python source code 此文本是通过以下代码生成的。

s = """Gur Mra bs Clguba, ol Gvz Crgref

Ornhgvshy vf orggre guna htyl.
Rkcyvpvg vf orggre guna vzcyvpvg.
Fvzcyr vf orggre guna pbzcyrk.
Pbzcyrk vf orggre guna pbzcyvpngrq.
Syng vf orggre guna arfgrq.
Fcnefr vf orggre guna qrafr.
Ernqnovyvgl pbhagf.
Fcrpvny pnfrf nera'g fcrpvny rabhtu gb oernx gur ehyrf.
Nygubhtu cenpgvpnyvgl orngf chevgl.
Reebef fubhyq arire cnff fvyragyl.
Hayrff rkcyvpvgyl fvyraprq.
Va gur snpr bs nzovthvgl, ershfr gur grzcgngvba gb thrff.
Gurer fubhyq or bar-- naq cersrenoyl bayl bar --boivbhf jnl gb qb vg.
Nygubhtu gung jnl znl abg or boivbhf ng svefg hayrff lbh'er Qhgpu.
Abj vf orggre guna arire.
Nygubhtu arire vf bsgra orggre guna *evtug* abj.
Vs gur vzcyrzragngvba vf uneq gb rkcynva, vg'f n onq vqrn.
Vs gur vzcyrzragngvba vf rnfl gb rkcynva, vg znl or n tbbq vqrn.
Anzrfcnprf ner bar ubaxvat terng vqrn -- yrg'f qb zber bs gubfr!"""

d = {}
for c in (65, 97):
    for i in range(26):
        d[chr(i+c)] = chr((i+13) % 26 + c)

print "".join([d.get(c, c) for c in s])

我已阅读 What is the source code of the "this" module doing? 从接受的答案中我了解到 s 变量文本是 ROT13 编码的，最后 6 行

d = {}
for c in (65, 97):
    for i in range(26):
        d[chr(i+c)] = chr((i+13) % 26 + c)

print "".join([d.get(c, c) for c in s])

将通过构建翻译 table 进行解码并打印到控制台。

为什么要编码？也就是说，为什么不这样写：

s = """
The Zen of Python, by Tim Peters

Beautiful is better than ugly.
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Complex is better than complicated.
Flat is better than nested.
Sparse is better than dense.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity.
Errors should never pass silently.
Unless explicitly silenced.
In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it.
Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
Now is better than never.
Although never is often better than *right* now.
If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
Namespaces are one honking great idea -- let's do more of those!"""

print(s)

注意：我在 SO 中搜索了类似的问题，但找不到有用的链接。

Answer 1

来自@abarnert 的 comment 说明了一切：

As a joke. Everything the module does, from obfuscating the source code to implementing rot13 from scratch even though it's built into the stdlib, directly violates the Zen of Python. Tim Peters also snuck some subtle jokes into the Zen itself (notice the dashes on the TOOWTDI line do it two different ways?)

此外，efforts were made to remove the encoding, but it was rolled back in a subsequent PR。

为什么这个模块中的文本是 ROT13 编码的？

Why is the text in this module ROT13 encoded?

python

encryption

cpython

python-3.x