[Python-Dev] C coding experiment

[Raymond Hettinger]

If anyone wants a small, but interesting C project, let me know.  The
project does not require much familiarity with the CPython
implementation; all that is needed are basic C coding skills and a
puzzle solving mentality.  

The goal is to determine whether the setobject.c implementation would be
improved by recoding the set_lookkey() function to optimize key
insertion order using Brent's variation of Algorithm D (See Knuth vol.
III, section 6.4, page 525).  

It has the potential to boost performance for uniquification
applications with duplicate keys being identified more quickly (usually
with just a single probe).  The function may also result in more
frequent retirement of dummy entries during insertion operations.

The function can be coded from scratch or adapted from Lua's source
code.



Raymond