Should NameSpace entries be available through a hash-like interface?

[whiteknight]

Several notes I've run across make references to the fact that NameSpace PMCs should be searchable using a hash-like interface to find entries in the namespace. There aren't a lot of details in these spattered notes, so I don't know whether it suggests we should be able to lookup nested namespaces using such an interface, or NameSpace global entries, or both.

Here's an example of a note from src/global.c:

NOTE: At present the use of the {get, set}_global functions is mandatory due
      to the wacky namespace typing of the default Parrot namespace.
      Eventually it will be safe to just use the standard hash interface
      (if desired).

Let's figure out exactly what these notes mean, what we want the NameSpace interface to be, and make everything right.

[jkeenan]

Has anyone had further insights on this topic?

Thank you very much.

kid51