[Python-Dev] Re: native code compiler? (or, OCaml vs. Python)

holger krekel pyth@devel.trillke.net
Thu, 30 Jan 2003 21:22:01 +0100


Graham Guttocks wrote:
> Greg Ewing <greg@cosc.canterbury.ac.nz> wrote:
> >
> >> one glaring weakness is the absence of a high-performance native
> >> code compiler. Are there any plans to develop this?
> >
> > This is asked fairly frequently, and the usual answer is "No, but
> > you're welcome to volunteer." :-)
> Really? It surprises me that after 10 years, this isn't something that
> has been given more priority. Is the problem simply too difficult?

Nobody cared enough to do it.

> > There are some projects attacking parts of the problem, however,
> > e.g. Psyco.
> 
> I've looked at Psyco, but it seems treated like an ad-hoc red-headed
> stepchild.

ASFAIK there will soon be a 1.0 release.  

> Why isn't something this made part of Python?

I guess it's still far too experimental and platform specific
to be even considered.

> It would be nice to use Python for more serious projects, but it isn't
> fast enough currently.

Python has shown to be pretty appropriate for a lot of tasks.  
If you like to discuss or comment on this i am ready but
let's please move it to comp.lang.python then. 

    holger