Backport of several functions from Python 3.0 to 2.6 including PyUnicode_FromString, PyUnicode_Format and PyLong_From/AsSsize_t. The functions are partly required for the backport of the bytearray type and _fileio module. They should also make it easier to port C to 3.0.
First chapter of the Python 3.0 io framework back port: _fileio
The next step depends on a working bytearray type which itself depends on a backport of the nwe buffer API.