`copy.__doc__` is out of date

[marnanel]

Documentation

copy.__doc__ ends:

Classes can use the same interfaces to control copying that they use
to control pickling: they can define methods called __getinitargs__(),
__getstate__() and __setstate__().  See the documentation for module
"pickle" for information on these methods.

But __getinitargs__ went away with Python 2.

Linked PRs

• gh-138676: Fix doc about pickling in copy module. #138872

[StanFromIreland]

It hasn't been updated since 1997!

[StanFromIreland]

Secondly, pickle.doc doesn't actually describe how getstate and setstate can be used for custom pickling, though it probably should.

Please have one issue per module.

[marnanel]

Secondly, pickle.doc doesn't actually describe how getstate and setstate can be used for custom pickling, though it probably should.

Please have one issue per module.

Done. The other issue is now #138687.

[AA-Turner]

The pickle protocols are more complicated (fully-featured) today, but by including it all we risk needlessly complicating the docstring. The key idea is that copy and pickle share the same protocols and mechanisms.

Perhaps:

 Classes can use the same interfaces to control copying that they use
-to control pickling: they can define methods called __getinitargs__(),
-__getstate__() and __setstate__().  See the documentation for module
-"pickle" for information on these methods.
+to control pickling, for example by defining the __getstate__() or 
+__setstate__() methods. See the documentation for the 'pickle' module
+for information on the protocols and methods involved.

A