try:
    import ure as re
except ImportError:
    import re

r = re.compile(" ")
s = r.split("a b c foobar")
print(s)

r = re.compile(" +")
s = r.split("a b    c   foobar")
print(s)

r = re.compile(" +")
s = r.split("a b    c   foobar", 1)
print(s)

r = re.compile(" +")
s = r.split("a b    c   foobar", 2)
print(s)

r = re.compile(" *")
s = r.split("a b    c   foobar")
# TODO - no idea how this is supposed to work, per docs, empty match == stop
# splitting, so CPython code apparently does some dirty magic.
#print(s)

r = re.compile("x*")
s = r.split("foo")
print(s)

r = re.compile("[a-f]+")
s = r.split("0a3b9")
print(s)