[Python-ideas] Operator as first class citizens -- like in scala -- or yet another new operator?

[Barry Scott]

> On 26 May 2019, at 08:07, Yanghao Hua <yanghao.py at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> On Sun, May 26, 2019 at 12:04 AM David Mertz <mertz at gnosis.cx> wrote:
>> 
>> I don't really understand HDL/Verilog, but I've worked with people who do. In fact, I even wrote a pre-processor that transformed the same DSL to Python, C++, and Verilog.
>> 
>> In my mind, the HDL use case is FAR too narrow and specialized to warrant a new arrow operator, let an entirely new parser and semantics around arbitrary operators. There are several existing dunders that could plausibly be repurposed already (<<, <<=, <=, etc). Those might look sightly different than the verilog operators, but that's a very small price. In fact, just using attributes and assignment is an incredibly low bar too, and allows whatever overriding you wish.
> 
> Well, depends on how we define narrow ... you are writing probably
> this email on a HDL designed machine ... and the entire world is
> powered by HDL designed silicons. that is not small for me at all.

I think you are confusing the number of people that use HDL with the amount of product created.

Also I was under the impression that HDL tools exist already that are considered usable and yet do not need python.

What is the problem that you aim to solve with a python HDL tool?

If the syntax of the HDL is so important I do not understand why you do not write a parser for the HDL and
build the run-time model in python. Then run the model - no new syntax required.

For any non-trivia hardware I'm finding it hard to believe that python will run fast enough to be useful.
What is it that I'm missing?


> 
>> I just don't buy the idea that such a DSL can only be useful if it spells 'abc <== message' and useless if it spelled the same thing as 'abc <<= message'.
> 
> So you don't find this is confusing?
> 
> signal <<= 5 # does it mean left shifting signal or assigning 5 to signal??
> 
> I really do think it is confusing.

Isn't that a matter of familiarity with HDL? Many people replying are not familiar with HDL.

Barry