warnings.catch_warnings() now returns a list or None instead of the custom

WarningsRecorder object. This makes the API simpler to use as no special object
must be learned.

Closes issue 3781.
Review by Benjamin Peterson.

24 files changed, 268 insertions, 253 deletions

diff --git a/Doc/library/warnings.rst b/Doc/library/warnings.rst
index 68bc261..e9d0182 100644
--- a/Doc/library/warnings.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/warnings.rst
@@ -158,6 +158,67 @@ ImportWarning can also be enabled explicitly in Python code using::
    warnings.simplefilter('default', ImportWarning)
 
 
+.. _warning-suppress:
+
+Temporarily Suppressing Warnings
+--------------------------------
+
+If you are using code that you know will raise a warning, such some deprecated
+function, but do not want to see the warning, then suppress the warning using
+the :class:`catch_warnings` context manager::
+
+    import warnings
+
+    def fxn():
+        warnings.warn("deprecated", DeprecationWarning)
+
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
+        fxn()
+
+While within the context manager all warnings will simply be ignored. This
+allows you to use known-deprecated code without having to see the warning while
+not suppressing the warning for other code that might not be aware of its use
+of deprecated code.
+
+
+.. _warning-testing:
+
+Testing Warnings
+----------------
+
+To test warnings raised by code, use the :class:`catch_warnings` context
+manager. With it you can temporarily mutate the warnings filter to facilitate
+your testing. For instance, do the following to capture all raised warnings to
+check::
+
+    import warnings
+
+    def fxn():
+        warnings.warn("deprecated", DeprecationWarning)
+
+    with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        # Cause all warnings to always be triggered.
+        warnings.simplefilter("always")
+        # Trigger a warning.
+        fxn()
+        # Verify some things
+        assert len(w) == 1
+        assert isinstance(w[-1].category, DeprecationWarning)
+        assert "deprecated" in str(w[-1].message)
+
+One can also cause all warnings to be exceptions by using ``error`` instead of
+``always``. One thing to be aware of is that if a warning has already been
+raised because of a ``once``/``default`` rule, then no matter what filters are
+set the warning will not be seen again unless the warnings registry related to
+the warning has been cleared.
+
+Once the context manager exits, the warnings filter is restored to its state
+when the context was entered. This prevents tests from changing the warnings
+filter in unexpected ways between tests and leading to indeterminate test
+results.
+
+
 .. _warning-functions:
 
 Available Functions
@@ -264,31 +325,22 @@ Available Functions
    and calls to :func:`simplefilter`.
 
 
-Available Classes
------------------
-
-.. class:: catch_warnings([\*, record=False[, module=None]])
-
-    A context manager that guards the warnings filter from being permanently
-    mutated. The manager returns an instance of :class:`WarningsRecorder`. The 
-    *record* argument specifies whether warnings that would typically be
-    handled by :func:`showwarning` should instead be recorded by the
-    :class:`WarningsRecorder` instance. This argument is typically set when
-    testing for expected warnings behavior. The *module* argument may be a
-    module object that is to be used instead of the :mod:`warnings` module.
-    This argument should only be set when testing the :mod:`warnings` module 
-    or some similar use-case.
+Available Context Managers
+--------------------------
 
-    Typical usage of the context manager is like so::
+.. class:: catch_warnings([\*, record=False, module=None])
 
-        def fxn():
-            warn("fxn is deprecated", DeprecationWarning)
-            return "spam spam bacon spam"
+    A context manager that copies and, upon exit, restores the warnings filter.
+    If the *record* argument is False (the default) the context manager returns
+    :class:`None`. If *record* is true, a list is returned that is populated
+    with objects as seen by a custom :func:`showwarning` function (which also
+    suppresses output to ``sys.stdout``). Each object has attributes with the
+    same names as the arguments to :func:`showwarning`.
 
-        # The function 'fxn' is known to raise a DeprecationWarning.
-        with catch_warnings() as w:
-            warnings.filterwarning('ignore', 'fxn is deprecated', DeprecationWarning)
-            fxn()  # DeprecationWarning is temporarily suppressed.
+    The *module* argument takes a module that will be used instead of the
+    module returned when you import :mod:`warnings` whose filter will be
+    protected. This arguments exists primarily for testing the :mod:`warnings`
+    module itself.
 
     .. note::
 
@@ -297,19 +349,3 @@ Available Classes
 
     .. versionadded:: 2.6
 
-
-.. class:: WarningsRecorder()
-
-    A subclass of :class:`list` that stores all warnings passed to
-    :func:`showwarning` when returned by a :class:`catch_warnings` context
-    manager created with its *record* argument set to ``True``. Each recorded
-    warning is represented by an object whose attributes correspond to the
-    arguments to :func:`showwarning`. As a convenience, a
-    :class:`WarningsRecorder` instance has the attributes of the last
-    recorded warning set on the :class:`WarningsRecorder` instance as well.
-
-    .. method:: reset()
-
-        Delete all recorded warnings.
-
-    .. versionadded:: 2.6
diff --git a/Lib/asynchat.py b/Lib/asynchat.py
index a97de93..911833d 100644
--- a/Lib/asynchat.py
+++ b/Lib/asynchat.py
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ import socket
 import asyncore
 from collections import deque
 from sys import py3kwarning
-from test.test_support import catch_warning
 from warnings import filterwarnings, catch_warnings
 
 class async_chat (asyncore.dispatcher):
diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_early_close.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_early_close.py
index 3d3396c..cc69e47 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_early_close.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_early_close.py
@@ -168,9 +168,9 @@ class DBEnvClosedEarlyCrash(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(("XXX", "yyy"), c1.first())
         import warnings
         # Not interested in warnings about implicit close.
-        warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
-        txn.commit()
-        warnings.resetwarnings()
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
+            warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
+            txn.commit()
         self.assertRaises(db.DBCursorClosedError, c2.first)
 
     if db.version() > (4,3,0) :
diff --git a/Lib/mimetools.py b/Lib/mimetools.py
index fc5a2a5..71ca8f8 100644
--- a/Lib/mimetools.py
+++ b/Lib/mimetools.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 import tempfile
 from warnings import filterwarnings, catch_warnings
-with catch_warnings(record=False):
+with catch_warnings():
     if sys.py3kwarning:
         filterwarnings("ignore", ".*rfc822 has been removed", DeprecationWarning)
     import rfc822
diff --git a/Lib/test/test___all__.py b/Lib/test/test___all__.py
index 9bd0083..0a8c5d6 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test___all__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test___all__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import unittest
-from test.test_support import run_unittest, catch_warning
+from test.test_support import run_unittest
 import sys
 import warnings
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class AllTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def check_all(self, modname):
         names = {}
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", ".* (module|package)",
                                     DeprecationWarning)
             try:
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py b/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
index 0576b62..06a2378 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import os
 import sys
 import unittest
 import pickle, cPickle
+import warnings
 
-from test.test_support import (TESTFN, unlink, run_unittest,
-                                catch_warning, captured_output)
+from test.test_support import TESTFN, unlink, run_unittest, captured_output
 from test.test_pep352 import ignore_message_warning
 
 # XXX This is not really enough, each *operation* should be tested!
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ class ExceptionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         except NameError:
             pass
 
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             ignore_message_warning()
             for exc, args, expected in exceptionList:
                 try:
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_hmac.py b/Lib/test/test_hmac.py
index c57ac7f..d97583f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_hmac.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_hmac.py
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class TestVectorsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             def digest(self):
                 return self._x.digest()
 
-        with test_support.catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.simplefilter('error', RuntimeWarning)
             try:
                 hmac.HMAC('a', 'b', digestmod=MockCrazyHash)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_import.py b/Lib/test/test_import.py
index ed9c7af..644a473 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_import.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_import.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import shutil
 import sys
 import py_compile
 import warnings
-from test.test_support import unlink, TESTFN, unload, run_unittest, catch_warning
+from test.test_support import unlink, TESTFN, unload, run_unittest
 
 
 def remove_files(name):
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class ImportTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_(y is test.test_support, y.__name__)
 
     def test_import_initless_directory_warning(self):
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             # Just a random non-package directory we always expect to be
             # somewhere in sys.path...
             warnings.simplefilter('error', ImportWarning)
@@ -279,17 +279,17 @@ class RelativeImport(unittest.TestCase):
         check_relative()
         # Check relative fails with only __package__ wrong
         ns = dict(__package__='foo', __name__='test.notarealmodule')
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             check_absolute()
-            self.assert_('foo' in str(w.message))
-            self.assertEqual(w.category, RuntimeWarning)
+            self.assert_('foo' in str(w[-1].message))
+            self.assertEqual(w[-1].category, RuntimeWarning)
         self.assertRaises(SystemError, check_relative)
         # Check relative fails with __package__ and __name__ wrong
         ns = dict(__package__='foo', __name__='notarealpkg.notarealmodule')
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             check_absolute()
-            self.assert_('foo' in str(w.message))
-            self.assertEqual(w.category, RuntimeWarning)
+            self.assert_('foo' in str(w[-1].message))
+            self.assertEqual(w[-1].category, RuntimeWarning)
         self.assertRaises(SystemError, check_relative)
         # Check both fail with package set to a non-string
         ns = dict(__package__=object())
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_macostools.py b/Lib/test/test_macostools.py
index da982d0..5c83d28 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_macostools.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_macostools.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class TestMacostools(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_touched(self):
         # This really only tests that nothing unforeseen happens.
         import warnings
-        with test_support.catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', 'macostools.touched*',
                                     DeprecationWarning)
             macostools.touched(test_support.TESTFN)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_pep352.py b/Lib/test/test_pep352.py
index 1867b9e..e335528 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_pep352.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_pep352.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import unittest
 import __builtin__
 import exceptions
 import warnings
-from test.test_support import run_unittest, catch_warning
+from test.test_support import run_unittest
 import os
 from platform import system as platform_system
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class ExceptionClassTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.failUnless(issubclass(Exception, object))
 
     def verify_instance_interface(self, ins):
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             ignore_message_warning()
             for attr in ("args", "message", "__str__", "__repr__",
                             "__getitem__"):
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class ExceptionClassTests(unittest.TestCase):
         # Make sure interface works properly when given a single argument
         arg = "spam"
         exc = Exception(arg)
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             ignore_message_warning()
             results = ([len(exc.args), 1], [exc.args[0], arg],
                     [exc.message, arg],
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class ExceptionClassTests(unittest.TestCase):
         arg_count = 3
         args = tuple(range(arg_count))
         exc = Exception(*args)
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             ignore_message_warning()
             results = ([len(exc.args), arg_count], [exc.args, args],
                     [exc.message, ''], [str(exc), str(args)],
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class ExceptionClassTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_interface_no_arg(self):
         # Make sure that with no args that interface is correct
         exc = Exception()
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             ignore_message_warning()
             results = ([len(exc.args), 0], [exc.args, tuple()],
                     [exc.message, ''],
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class ExceptionClassTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_message_deprecation(self):
         # As of Python 2.6, BaseException.message is deprecated.
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.resetwarnings()
             warnings.filterwarnings('error')
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ class UsageTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_catch_string(self):
         # Catching a string should trigger a DeprecationWarning.
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.resetwarnings()
             warnings.filterwarnings("error")
             str_exc = "spam"
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_py3kwarn.py b/Lib/test/test_py3kwarn.py
index 780de74..aa1ecbb 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_py3kwarn.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_py3kwarn.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import unittest
 import sys
-from test.test_support import (catch_warning, CleanImport,
-                               TestSkipped, run_unittest)
+from test.test_support import CleanImport, TestSkipped, run_unittest
 import warnings
 
 from contextlib import nested
@@ -13,11 +12,11 @@ if not sys.py3kwarning:
 class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def assertWarning(self, _, warning, expected_message):
-        self.assertEqual(str(warning.message), expected_message)
+        self.assertEqual(str(warning[-1].message), expected_message)
 
     def test_backquote(self):
         expected = 'backquote not supported in 3.x; use repr()'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             exec "`2`" in {}
         self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
 
@@ -28,71 +27,55 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
             exec expr in {'f' : f}
 
         expected = "assignment to True or False is forbidden in 3.x"
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             safe_exec("True = False")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("False = True")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             try:
                 safe_exec("obj.False = True")
             except NameError: pass
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             try:
                 safe_exec("obj.True = False")
             except NameError: pass
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("def False(): pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("def True(): pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("class False: pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("class True: pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("def f(True=43): pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("def f(False=None): pass")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("f(False=True)")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             safe_exec("f(True=1)")
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
 
 
     def test_type_inequality_comparisons(self):
         expected = 'type inequality comparisons not supported in 3.x'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(int < str, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(type < object, w, expected)
 
     def test_object_inequality_comparisons(self):
         expected = 'comparing unequal types not supported in 3.x'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(str < [], w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(object() < (1, 2), w, expected)
 
     def test_dict_inequality_comparisons(self):
         expected = 'dict inequality comparisons not supported in 3.x'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning({} < {2:3}, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning({} <= {}, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning({} > {2:3}, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning({2:3} >= {}, w, expected)
 
     def test_cell_inequality_comparisons(self):
@@ -103,9 +86,8 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
             return g
         cell0, = f(0).func_closure
         cell1, = f(1).func_closure
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(cell0 == cell1, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(cell0 < cell1, w, expected)
 
     def test_code_inequality_comparisons(self):
@@ -114,13 +96,10 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
             pass
         def g(x):
             pass
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(f.func_code < g.func_code, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(f.func_code <= g.func_code, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(f.func_code >= g.func_code, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(f.func_code > g.func_code, w, expected)
 
     def test_builtin_function_or_method_comparisons(self):
@@ -128,13 +107,10 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
                     'inequality comparisons not supported in 3.x')
         func = eval
         meth = {}.get
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(func < meth, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(func > meth, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(meth <= func, w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(meth >= func, w, expected)
 
     def test_sort_cmp_arg(self):
@@ -142,18 +118,15 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
         lst = range(5)
         cmp = lambda x,y: -1
 
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(lst.sort(cmp=cmp), w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(sorted(lst, cmp=cmp), w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(lst.sort(cmp), w, expected)
-            w.reset()
             self.assertWarning(sorted(lst, cmp), w, expected)
 
     def test_sys_exc_clear(self):
         expected = 'sys.exc_clear() not supported in 3.x; use except clauses'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(sys.exc_clear(), w, expected)
 
     def test_methods_members(self):
@@ -162,17 +135,17 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
             __methods__ = ['a']
             __members__ = ['b']
         c = C()
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(dir(c), w, expected)
 
     def test_softspace(self):
         expected = 'file.softspace not supported in 3.x'
         with file(__file__) as f:
-            with catch_warning() as w:
+            with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 self.assertWarning(f.softspace, w, expected)
             def set():
                 f.softspace = 0
-            with catch_warning() as w:
+            with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 self.assertWarning(set(), w, expected)
 
     def test_slice_methods(self):
@@ -188,60 +161,59 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
         expected = "in 3.x, __{0}slice__ has been removed; use __{0}item__"
 
         for obj in (Spam(), Egg()):
-            with catch_warning() as w:
+            with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 self.assertWarning(obj[1:2], w, expected.format('get'))
-                w.reset()
                 del obj[3:4]
                 self.assertWarning(None, w, expected.format('del'))
-                w.reset()
                 obj[4:5] = "eggs"
                 self.assertWarning(None, w, expected.format('set'))
 
     def test_tuple_parameter_unpacking(self):
         expected = "tuple parameter unpacking has been removed in 3.x"
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             exec "def f((a, b)): pass"
             self.assertWarning(None, w, expected)
 
     def test_buffer(self):
         expected = 'buffer() not supported in 3.x'
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             self.assertWarning(buffer('a'), w, expected)
 
     def test_file_xreadlines(self):
         expected = ("f.xreadlines() not supported in 3.x, "
                     "try 'for line in f' instead")
         with file(__file__) as f:
-            with catch_warning() as w:
+            with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 self.assertWarning(f.xreadlines(), w, expected)
 
     def test_hash_inheritance(self):
-        with catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             # With object as the base class
             class WarnOnlyCmp(object):
                 def __cmp__(self, other): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 1)
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __cmp__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class WarnOnlyEq(object):
                 def __eq__(self, other): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 1)
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __eq__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class WarnCmpAndEq(object):
                 def __cmp__(self, other): pass
                 def __eq__(self, other): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 2)
-            self.assertWarning(None, w[-2],
+            self.assertWarning(None, w[:1],
                  "Overriding __cmp__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __eq__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class NoWarningOnlyHash(object):
                 def __hash__(self): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 0)
+            del w[:]
             # With an intermediate class in the heirarchy
             class DefinesAllThree(object):
                 def __cmp__(self, other): pass
@@ -252,22 +224,22 @@ class TestPy3KWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 1)
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __cmp__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class WarnOnlyEq(DefinesAllThree):
                 def __eq__(self, other): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 1)
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __eq__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class WarnCmpAndEq(DefinesAllThree):
                 def __cmp__(self, other): pass
                 def __eq__(self, other): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 2)
-            self.assertWarning(None, w[-2],
+            self.assertWarning(None, w[:1],
                  "Overriding __cmp__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
             self.assertWarning(None, w,
                  "Overriding __eq__ blocks inheritance of __hash__ in 3.x")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             class NoWarningOnlyHash(DefinesAllThree):
                 def __hash__(self): pass
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 0)
@@ -310,7 +282,7 @@ class TestStdlibRemovals(unittest.TestCase):
     def check_removal(self, module_name, optional=False):
         """Make sure the specified module, when imported, raises a
         DeprecationWarning and specifies itself in the message."""
-        with nested(CleanImport(module_name), catch_warning(record=False)):
+        with nested(CleanImport(module_name), warnings.catch_warnings()):
             warnings.filterwarnings("error", ".+ removed",
                                     DeprecationWarning, __name__)
             try:
@@ -348,36 +320,36 @@ class TestStdlibRemovals(unittest.TestCase):
         def dumbo(where, names, args): pass
         for path_mod in ("ntpath", "macpath", "os2emxpath", "posixpath"):
             mod = __import__(path_mod)
-            with catch_warning() as w:
+            with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 mod.walk("crashers", dumbo, None)
-            self.assertEquals(str(w.message), msg)
+            self.assertEquals(str(w[-1].message), msg)
 
     def test_commands_members(self):
         import commands
         members = {"mk2arg" : 2, "mkarg" : 1, "getstatus" : 1}
         for name, arg_count in members.items():
-            with catch_warning(record=False):
+            with warnings.catch_warnings():
                 warnings.filterwarnings("error")
                 func = getattr(commands, name)
                 self.assertRaises(DeprecationWarning, func, *([None]*arg_count))
 
     def test_reduce_move(self):
         from operator import add
-        with catch_warning(record=False):
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings("error", "reduce")
             self.assertRaises(DeprecationWarning, reduce, add, range(10))
 
     def test_mutablestring_removal(self):
         # UserString.MutableString has been removed in 3.0.
         import UserString
-        with catch_warning(record=False):
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings("error", ".*MutableString",
                                     DeprecationWarning)
             self.assertRaises(DeprecationWarning, UserString.MutableString)
 
 
 def test_main():
-    with catch_warning():
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.simplefilter("always")
         run_unittest(TestPy3KWarnings,
                      TestStdlibRemovals)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_random.py b/Lib/test/test_random.py
index 4d570d0..d82d391 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_random.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_random.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class WichmannHill_TestBasicOps(TestBasicOps):
 
     def test_bigrand(self):
         # Verify warnings are raised when randrange is too large for random()
-        with test_support.catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings("error", "Underlying random")
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.gen.randrange, 2**60)
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_re.py b/Lib/test/test_re.py
index 1da3205..70bd886 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_re.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_re.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import sys
 sys.path = ['.'] + sys.path
 
-from test.test_support import verbose, run_unittest, catch_warning
+from test.test_support import verbose, run_unittest
 import re
 from re import Scanner
 import sys, os, traceback
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class ReTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.pickle_test(cPickle)
         # old pickles expect the _compile() reconstructor in sre module
         import warnings
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", "The sre module is deprecated",
                                     DeprecationWarning)
             from sre import _compile
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_struct.py b/Lib/test/test_struct.py
index ec4a2db..232bffc 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_struct.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_struct.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import struct
 import warnings
 
 from functools import wraps
-from test.test_support import TestFailed, verbose, run_unittest, catch_warning
+from test.test_support import TestFailed, verbose, run_unittest
 
 import sys
 ISBIGENDIAN = sys.byteorder == "big"
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def bigendian_to_native(value):
 def with_warning_restore(func):
     @wraps(func)
     def decorator(*args, **kw):
-        with catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
             # We need this function to warn every time, so stick an
             # unqualifed 'always' at the head of the filter list
             warnings.simplefilter("always")
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_structmembers.py b/Lib/test/test_structmembers.py
index 6c1a947..e0e7e56 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_structmembers.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_structmembers.py
@@ -66,35 +66,35 @@ class ReadWriteTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class TestWarnings(unittest.TestCase):
     def has_warned(self, w):
-        self.assertEqual(w.category, RuntimeWarning)
+        self.assertEqual(w[-1].category, RuntimeWarning)
 
     def test_byte_max(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_BYTE = CHAR_MAX+1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
     def test_byte_min(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_BYTE = CHAR_MIN-1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
     def test_ubyte_max(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_UBYTE = UCHAR_MAX+1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
     def test_short_max(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_SHORT = SHRT_MAX+1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
     def test_short_min(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_SHORT = SHRT_MIN-1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
     def test_ushort_max(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             ts.T_USHORT = USHRT_MAX+1
             self.has_warned(w)
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sundry.py b/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
index 404a405..49ec12c 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import warnings
 
 class TestUntestedModules(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_at_least_import_untested_modules(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning():
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True):
             import CGIHTTPServer
             import aifc
             import audiodev
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_support.py b/Lib/test/test_support.py
index 695bd6d..0bf22cf 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_support.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_support.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ __all__ = ["Error", "TestFailed", "TestSkipped", "ResourceDenied", "import_modul
            "is_resource_enabled", "requires", "find_unused_port", "bind_port",
            "fcmp", "have_unicode", "is_jython", "TESTFN", "HOST", "FUZZ",
            "findfile", "verify", "vereq", "sortdict", "check_syntax_error",
-           "open_urlresource", "catch_warning", "CleanImport",
+           "open_urlresource", "CleanImport",
            "EnvironmentVarGuard", "captured_output",
            "captured_stdout", "TransientResource", "transient_internet",
            "run_with_locale", "set_memlimit", "bigmemtest", "bigaddrspacetest",
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class ResourceDenied(TestSkipped):
 def import_module(name, deprecated=False):
     """Import the module to be tested, raising TestSkipped if it is not
     available."""
-    with catch_warning(record=False):
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
         if deprecated:
             warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", ".+ (module|package)",
                                     DeprecationWarning)
@@ -381,10 +381,6 @@ def open_urlresource(url):
     return open(fn)
 
 
-def catch_warning(module=warnings, record=True):
-    return warnings.catch_warnings(record=record, module=module)
-
-
 class CleanImport(object):
     """Context manager to force import to return a new module reference.
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_symtable.py b/Lib/test/test_symtable.py
index 05b237a..b20f2b4 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_symtable.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_symtable.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def find_block(block, name):
 
 class SymtableTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
-    with test_support.catch_warning(record=False):
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
         # Ignore warnings about "from blank import *"
         warnings.simplefilter("ignore", SyntaxWarning)
         top = symtable.symtable(TEST_CODE, "?", "exec")
@@ -60,16 +60,16 @@ class SymtableTest(unittest.TestCase):
         def check(w, msg):
             self.assertEqual(str(w.message), msg)
         sym = self.top.lookup("glob")
-        with test_support.catch_warning() as w:
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             warnings.simplefilter("always", DeprecationWarning)
             self.assertFalse(sym.is_vararg())
-            check(w, "is_vararg() is obsolete and will be removed")
-            w.reset()
+            check(w[-1].message, "is_vararg() is obsolete and will be removed")
             self.assertFalse(sym.is_keywordarg())
-            check(w, "is_keywordarg() is obsolete and will be removed")
-            w.reset()
+            check(w[-1].message,
+                    "is_keywordarg() is obsolete and will be removed")
             self.assertFalse(sym.is_in_tuple())
-            check(w, "is_in_tuple() is obsolete and will be removed")
+            check(w[-1].message,
+                    "is_in_tuple() is obsolete and will be removed")
 
     def test_type(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.top.get_type(), "module")
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_urllib.py b/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
index 1dcbbed..7b351b8 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ class Pathname_Tests(unittest.TestCase):
 
 def test_main():
     import warnings
-    with test_support.catch_warning(record=False):
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings('ignore', ".*urllib\.urlopen.*Python 3.0",
                                 DeprecationWarning)
         test_support.run_unittest(
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_urllibnet.py b/Lib/test/test_urllibnet.py
index 0404b77..58fe282 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_urllibnet.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_urllibnet.py
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ class urlretrieveNetworkTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
 def test_main():
     test_support.requires('network')
-    from warnings import filterwarnings
-    with test_support.catch_warning(record=False):
+    from warnings import filterwarnings, catch_warnings
+    with catch_warnings():
         filterwarnings('ignore', '.*urllib\.urlopen.*Python 3.0',
                         DeprecationWarning)
         test_support.run_unittest(URLTimeoutTest,
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_userstring.py b/Lib/test/test_userstring.py
index cae610e..4bb0c45 100755
--- a/Lib/test/test_userstring.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_userstring.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class MutableStringTest(UserStringTest):
         self.assertEqual(s, "")
 
 def test_main():
-    with test_support.catch_warning(record=False):
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
         warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", ".*MutableString",
                                 DeprecationWarning)
         test_support.run_unittest(UserStringTest, MutableStringTest)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_warnings.py b/Lib/test/test_warnings.py
index 9980f24..388b5e9 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_warnings.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_warnings.py
@@ -72,64 +72,69 @@ class FilterTests(object):
     """Testing the filtering functionality."""
 
     def test_error(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", category=UserWarning)
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.module.warn,
                                 "FilterTests.test_error")
 
     def test_ignore(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(module=self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("ignore", category=UserWarning)
             self.module.warn("FilterTests.test_ignore", UserWarning)
             self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
 
     def test_always(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(module=self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("always", category=UserWarning)
             message = "FilterTests.test_always"
             self.module.warn(message, UserWarning)
-            self.assert_(message, w.message)
+            self.assert_(message, w[-1].message)
             self.module.warn(message, UserWarning)
-            self.assert_(w.message, message)
+            self.assert_(w[-1].message, message)
 
     def test_default(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("default", category=UserWarning)
             message = UserWarning("FilterTests.test_default")
             for x in xrange(2):
                 self.module.warn(message, UserWarning)
                 if x == 0:
-                    self.assertEquals(w.message, message)
-                    w.reset()
+                    self.assertEquals(w[-1].message, message)
+                    del w[:]
                 elif x == 1:
-                    self.assert_(not len(w), "unexpected warning: " + str(w))
+                    self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
                 else:
                     raise ValueError("loop variant unhandled")
 
     def test_module(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("module", category=UserWarning)
             message = UserWarning("FilterTests.test_module")
             self.module.warn(message, UserWarning)
-            self.assertEquals(w.message, message)
-            w.reset()
+            self.assertEquals(w[-1].message, message)
+            del w[:]
             self.module.warn(message, UserWarning)
-            self.assert_(not len(w), "unexpected message: " + str(w))
+            self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
 
     def test_once(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("once", category=UserWarning)
             message = UserWarning("FilterTests.test_once")
             self.module.warn_explicit(message, UserWarning, "test_warnings.py",
                                     42)
-            self.assertEquals(w.message, message)
-            w.reset()
+            self.assertEquals(w[-1].message, message)
+            del w[:]
             self.module.warn_explicit(message, UserWarning, "test_warnings.py",
                                     13)
             self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
@@ -138,19 +143,20 @@ class FilterTests(object):
             self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
 
     def test_inheritance(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", category=Warning)
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.module.warn,
                                 "FilterTests.test_inheritance", UserWarning)
 
     def test_ordering(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("ignore", category=UserWarning)
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", category=UserWarning,
                                         append=True)
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             try:
                 self.module.warn("FilterTests.test_ordering", UserWarning)
             except UserWarning:
@@ -160,28 +166,29 @@ class FilterTests(object):
     def test_filterwarnings(self):
         # Test filterwarnings().
         # Implicitly also tests resetwarnings().
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", "", Warning, "", 0)
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.module.warn, 'convert to error')
 
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             text = 'handle normally'
             self.module.warn(text)
-            self.assertEqual(str(w.message), text)
-            self.assert_(w.category is UserWarning)
+            self.assertEqual(str(w[-1].message), text)
+            self.assert_(w[-1].category is UserWarning)
 
             self.module.filterwarnings("ignore", "", Warning, "", 0)
             text = 'filtered out'
             self.module.warn(text)
-            self.assertNotEqual(str(w.message), text)
+            self.assertNotEqual(str(w[-1].message), text)
 
             self.module.resetwarnings()
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", "hex*", Warning, "", 0)
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.module.warn, 'hex/oct')
             text = 'nonmatching text'
             self.module.warn(text)
-            self.assertEqual(str(w.message), text)
-            self.assert_(w.category is UserWarning)
+            self.assertEqual(str(w[-1].message), text)
+            self.assert_(w[-1].category is UserWarning)
 
 class CFilterTests(BaseTest, FilterTests):
     module = c_warnings
@@ -195,40 +202,51 @@ class WarnTests(unittest.TestCase):
     """Test warnings.warn() and warnings.warn_explicit()."""
 
     def test_message(self):
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                module=self.module) as w:
             for i in range(4):
                 text = 'multi %d' %i  # Different text on each call.
                 self.module.warn(text)
-                self.assertEqual(str(w.message), text)
-                self.assert_(w.category is UserWarning)
+                self.assertEqual(str(w[-1].message), text)
+                self.assert_(w[-1].category is UserWarning)
 
     def test_filename(self):
         with warnings_state(self.module):
-            with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+            with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                    module=self.module) as w:
                 warning_tests.inner("spam1")
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "warning_tests.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "warning_tests.py")
                 warning_tests.outer("spam2")
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "warning_tests.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "warning_tests.py")
 
     def test_stacklevel(self):
         # Test stacklevel argument
         # make sure all messages are different, so the warning won't be skipped
         with warnings_state(self.module):
-            with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+            with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                    module=self.module) as w:
                 warning_tests.inner("spam3", stacklevel=1)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "warning_tests.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "warning_tests.py")
                 warning_tests.outer("spam4", stacklevel=1)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "warning_tests.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "warning_tests.py")
 
                 warning_tests.inner("spam5", stacklevel=2)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "test_warnings.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "test_warnings.py")
                 warning_tests.outer("spam6", stacklevel=2)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "warning_tests.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "warning_tests.py")
                 warning_tests.outer("spam6.5", stacklevel=3)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "test_warnings.py")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "test_warnings.py")
 
                 warning_tests.inner("spam7", stacklevel=9999)
-                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w.filename), "sys")
+                self.assertEqual(os.path.basename(w[-1].filename),
+                                    "sys")
 
     def test_missing_filename_not_main(self):
         # If __file__ is not specified and __main__ is not the module name,
@@ -237,9 +255,10 @@ class WarnTests(unittest.TestCase):
         try:
             del warning_tests.__file__
             with warnings_state(self.module):
-                with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+                with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                        module=self.module) as w:
                     warning_tests.inner("spam8", stacklevel=1)
-                    self.assertEqual(w.filename, warning_tests.__name__)
+                    self.assertEqual(w[-1].filename, warning_tests.__name__)
         finally:
             warning_tests.__file__ = filename
 
@@ -254,9 +273,10 @@ class WarnTests(unittest.TestCase):
             del warning_tests.__file__
             warning_tests.__name__ = '__main__'
             with warnings_state(self.module):
-                with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+                with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                        module=self.module) as w:
                     warning_tests.inner('spam9', stacklevel=1)
-                    self.assertEqual(w.filename, sys.argv[0])
+                    self.assertEqual(w[-1].filename, sys.argv[0])
         finally:
             warning_tests.__file__ = filename
             warning_tests.__name__ = module_name
@@ -272,9 +292,10 @@ class WarnTests(unittest.TestCase):
             warning_tests.__name__ = '__main__'
             del sys.argv
             with warnings_state(self.module):
-                with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+                with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                        module=self.module) as w:
                     warning_tests.inner('spam10', stacklevel=1)
-                    self.assertEqual(w.filename, '__main__')
+                    self.assertEqual(w[-1].filename, '__main__')
         finally:
             warning_tests.__file__ = filename
             warning_tests.__name__ = module_name
@@ -292,9 +313,10 @@ class WarnTests(unittest.TestCase):
             warning_tests.__name__ = '__main__'
             sys.argv = ['']
             with warnings_state(self.module):
-                with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+                with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                        module=self.module) as w:
                     warning_tests.inner('spam11', stacklevel=1)
-                    self.assertEqual(w.filename, '__main__')
+                    self.assertEqual(w[-1].filename, '__main__')
         finally:
             warning_tests.__file__ = file_name
             warning_tests.__name__ = module_name
@@ -328,7 +350,7 @@ class WCmdLineTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_improper_input(self):
         # Uses the private _setoption() function to test the parsing
         # of command-line warning arguments
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module):
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module):
             self.assertRaises(self.module._OptionError,
                               self.module._setoption, '1:2:3:4:5:6')
             self.assertRaises(self.module._OptionError,
@@ -353,7 +375,7 @@ class _WarningsTests(BaseTest):
 
     def test_filter(self):
         # Everything should function even if 'filters' is not in warnings.
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module) as w:
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", "", Warning, "", 0)
             self.assertRaises(UserWarning, self.module.warn,
                                 'convert to error')
@@ -368,21 +390,22 @@ class _WarningsTests(BaseTest):
         try:
             original_registry = self.module.onceregistry
             __warningregistry__ = {}
-            with test_support.catch_warning(self.module) as w:
+            with original_warnings.catch_warnings(record=True,
+                    module=self.module) as w:
                 self.module.resetwarnings()
                 self.module.filterwarnings("once", category=UserWarning)
                 self.module.warn_explicit(message, UserWarning, "file", 42)
-                self.failUnlessEqual(w.message, message)
-                w.reset()
+                self.failUnlessEqual(w[-1].message, message)
+                del w[:]
                 self.module.warn_explicit(message, UserWarning, "file", 42)
                 self.assertEquals(len(w), 0)
                 # Test the resetting of onceregistry.
                 self.module.onceregistry = {}
                 __warningregistry__ = {}
                 self.module.warn('onceregistry test')
-                self.failUnlessEqual(w.message.args, message.args)
+                self.failUnlessEqual(w[-1].message.args, message.args)
                 # Removal of onceregistry is okay.
-                w.reset()
+                del w[:]
                 del self.module.onceregistry
                 __warningregistry__ = {}
                 self.module.warn_explicit(message, UserWarning, "file", 42)
@@ -393,7 +416,7 @@ class _WarningsTests(BaseTest):
     def test_showwarning_missing(self):
         # Test that showwarning() missing is okay.
         text = 'del showwarning test'
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module):
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module):
             self.module.filterwarnings("always", category=UserWarning)
             del self.module.showwarning
             with test_support.captured_output('stderr') as stream:
@@ -414,7 +437,7 @@ class _WarningsTests(BaseTest):
     def test_show_warning_output(self):
         # With showarning() missing, make sure that output is okay.
         text = 'test show_warning'
-        with test_support.catch_warning(self.module):
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module):
             self.module.filterwarnings("always", category=UserWarning)
             del self.module.showwarning
             with test_support.captured_output('stderr') as stream:
@@ -486,7 +509,6 @@ class PyWarningsDisplayTests(BaseTest, WarningsDisplayTests):
     module = py_warnings
 
 
-
 class CatchWarningTests(BaseTest):
 
     """Test catch_warnings()."""
@@ -511,12 +533,12 @@ class CatchWarningTests(BaseTest):
             self.assertRaises(AttributeError, getattr, w, 'message')
             wmod.simplefilter("always")
             wmod.warn("foo")
-            self.assertEqual(str(w.message), "foo")
+            self.assertEqual(str(w[-1].message), "foo")
             wmod.warn("bar")
-            self.assertEqual(str(w.message), "bar")
+            self.assertEqual(str(w[-1].message), "bar")
             self.assertEqual(str(w[0].message), "foo")
             self.assertEqual(str(w[1].message), "bar")
-            w.reset()
+            del w[:]
             self.assertEqual(w, [])
         orig_showwarning = wmod.showwarning
         with wmod.catch_warnings(module=wmod, record=False) as w:
@@ -545,7 +567,7 @@ class ShowwarningDeprecationTests(BaseTest):
     def test_deprecation(self):
         # message, category, filename, lineno[, file[, line]]
         args = ("message", UserWarning, "file name", 42)
-        with test_support.catch_warning(module=self.module):
+        with original_warnings.catch_warnings(module=self.module):
             self.module.filterwarnings("error", category=DeprecationWarning)
             self.module.showwarning = self.bad_showwarning
             self.assertRaises(DeprecationWarning, self.module.warn_explicit,
diff --git a/Lib/warnings.py b/Lib/warnings.py
index 9ec04be..04e7b58 100644
--- a/Lib/warnings.py
+++ b/Lib/warnings.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 import types
 
 __all__ = ["warn", "showwarning", "formatwarning", "filterwarnings",
-           "resetwarnings"]
+           "resetwarnings", "catch_warnings"]
 
 
 def warnpy3k(message, category=None, stacklevel=1):
@@ -304,37 +304,20 @@ class WarningMessage(object):
                                     self.filename, self.lineno, self.line))
 
 
-class WarningsRecorder(list):
-
-    """Record the result of various showwarning() calls."""
-
-    # Explicitly stated arguments so as to not trigger DeprecationWarning
-    # about adding 'line'.
-    def showwarning(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.append(WarningMessage(*args, **kwargs))
-
-    def __getattr__(self, attr):
-        """Return attributes from the last caught warning, or raise
-        AttributeError."""
-        try:
-            return getattr(self[-1], attr)
-        except IndexError:
-            raise AttributeError("no recorded warning to read "
-                                    "{0!r} attribute from".format(attr))
-
-
-    def reset(self):
-        del self[:]
-
-
 class catch_warnings(object):
 
-    """Guard the warnings filter from being permanently changed and optionally
-    record the details of any warnings that are issued.
+    """A context manager that copies and restores the warnings filter upon
+    exiting the context.
+
+    The 'record' argument specifies whether warnings should be captured by a
+    custom implementation of warnings.showwarning() and be appended to a list
+    returned by the context manager. Otherwise None is returned by the context
+    manager. The objects appended to the list are arguments whose attributes
+    mirror the arguments to showwarning().
 
-    Context manager returns an instance of warnings.WarningRecorder which is a
-    list of WarningMessage instances. Attributes on WarningRecorder are
-    redirected to the last created WarningMessage instance.
+    The 'module' argument is to specify an alternative module to the module
+    named 'warnings' and imported under that name. This argument is only useful
+    when testing the warnings module itself.
 
     """
 
@@ -346,17 +329,21 @@ class catch_warnings(object):
         keyword-only.
 
         """
-        self._recorder = WarningsRecorder() if record else None
+        self._record = record
         self._module = sys.modules['warnings'] if module is None else module
 
     def __enter__(self):
         self._filters = self._module.filters
         self._module.filters = self._filters[:]
         self._showwarning = self._module.showwarning
-        if self._recorder is not None:
-            self._recorder.reset()  # In case the instance is being reused.
-            self._module.showwarning = self._recorder.showwarning
-        return self._recorder
+        if self._record:
+            log = []
+            def showwarning(*args, **kwargs):
+                log.append(WarningMessage(*args, **kwargs))
+            self._module.showwarning = showwarning
+            return log
+        else:
+            return None
 
     def __exit__(self, *exc_info):
         self._module.filters = self._filters
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b2da2c5..b7da5f1 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ C-API
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue 3781: Clean up the API for warnings.catch_warnings() by having it
+  return a list or None rather than a custom object.
+
 - Issue #1638033: Cookie.Morsel gained the httponly attribute.
 
 - Issue #3535: zipfile couldn't read some zip files larger than 2GB.