replace_bytestrings.py

import ast
import sys

filename = sys.argv[1]

with open(filename) as handle:
    source = handle.read()

sourcelines = source.splitlines()
tree = ast.parse(source)

bytestrings = []


class FuncLister(ast.NodeVisitor):
    def visit_Bytes(self, node):
        # 0 index vs 1 index
        bytestrings.append((node.lineno - 1, node.col_offset))
        self.generic_visit(node)


FuncLister().visit(tree)

# go through backwards so multiple edits to the same line don't move offsets
# yet to be used
for lineno, col_offset in reversed(bytestrings):
    line = sourcelines[lineno]
    line = line[:col_offset] + line[col_offset + 1:]
    sourcelines[lineno] = line


with open(filename, 'w') as handle:
    handle.write('\n'.join(sourcelines))
    if sourcelines:
        handle.write('\n')