old_contents: #
  # Copyright (c) 2007 rPath, Inc.
  #
  
  class AMIPlugin(object):
      name = None
  
      def __init__(self, id, ud):
          self.id = id
          self.ud = ud
  
      # Method for plugins to implement.
      def configure(self):
          pass
  
new_contents: #
  # Copyright (c) 2007 rPath, Inc.
  #
  
  import encoding
  
  class AMIPlugin(object):
      name = None
  
      def __init__(self, id, ud):
          self.id = id
          self.ud = ud
  
      def decode(self, s):
          return encoding.decode(s)
  
      # Method for plugins to implement.
      def configure(self):
          pass
  
subject: add decoder method for options that we know should be encoded