Python 2.0

[Hans Nowak]

On 27 May 99, Graham Matthews wrote:

> I was wondering if this is seriously being considered -- that is
> implementing Python 2.0 in Java rather than C. While I understand
> that there are some technical challenges with this (notably interfacing
> to the existing C implemented extensions), I personally think there
> is a lot to be said for compiling Python to the JVM. For example:
> access to the Java apis, garbage collection, true compilation, the
> ability to write statically typed code (just write that part in Java!),
> access to Swing, promoting Python on the coat-tails of Java (free
> publicity and hype), etc.
> 
> Comments?

While an implementation of Python in Java is a very nice thing to 
have (see JPython), I would not be too happy if this were the *only* 
version. Java does not run on every system or OS. This would mean 
that there won't be, for instance, a Python 2.0 for DOS. (And maybe 
other systems. Is there Java for the Amiga, for instance?) Now I know 
that most people think that DOS is dead, and technically inferior, so 
it won't be a big deal, but there are still quite a few DOS users 
around, and it does have its advantages over Windows. 

If it will be implemented in C or C++, I can't see how Python 2.0 
will *not* compile for DOS, but in Java, it's a different bowl of 
soup. Anyway, my point is not really that there should be a DOS 
version, but... Right now Python can be built on just about any 
system. That's because there's a C compiler for just about any 
system. Choosing Java as implementation language would change that. 
(And, for a working graphical implementation, one would need, say, 
Java, Python and Tkinter...)

This argument may seem feeble but many users of less popular systems 
are very glad that there's a Python available for them. I think it 
would be desirable to keep it that way.

Why not write it in Caml? At least it will have proper garbage 
collection then... :o))

Veel liefs,

--Hans Nowak (ivnowa at hvision.nl)
Homepage: http://fly.to/zephyrfalcon