[Python-Dev] Internal representation of strings and Micropython

[Serhiy Storchaka]

04.06.14 04:17, Steven D'Aprano написав(ла):
> Would either of these trade-offs be acceptable while still claiming
> "Python 3.4 compatibility"?
>
> My own feeling is that O(1) string indexing operations are a quality of
> implementation issue, not a deal breaker to call it a Python. I can't
> see any requirement in the docs that str[n] must take O(1) time, but
> perhaps I have missed something.

I think than breaking O(1) expectation for indexing makes the 
implementation significant incompatible with Python. Virtually all 
string operations in Python operates with indices.

O(1) indexing operations can be kept with minimal memory requirements if 
implement Unicode internally as modified UTF-8 plus optional array of 
offsets for every, say, 32th character (which even can be compressed to 
an array of 16-bit or 32-bit integers).