python performance

[Martin v. Löwis]

Padraig Brady <Padraig at Linux.ie> writes:

> > Calling functions adds overhead.  Running code within functions
> > reduces overhead for object access.
> 
> Ah OK, this because it has to search a smaller namespace?

No. Inside a function, local variables are accessed with integer
indices, instead of by name. This is possible because there is static
knowledge about the local variables in a function.

> Wouldn't compiling overcome this? 

Not if you want to preserve Python semantics; the compiler would need
to emit code that performs the same actions that the interpreter
currently does.

Regards,
Martin