Python from Wise Guy's Viewpoint

[Pascal Costanza]

Ken Rose wrote:
> Pascal Costanza wrote:
> 
>> Ken Rose wrote:
>>
>>> Pascal Costanza wrote:
>>>
>>>> Joachim Durchholz wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Pascal Costanza wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> For example, static type systems are incompatible with dynamic 
>>>>>> metaprogramming. This is objectively a reduction of expressive 
>>>>>> power, because programs that don't allow for dynamic 
>>>>>> metaprogramming can't be extended in certain ways at runtime, by 
>>>>>> definition.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> What is dynamic metaprogramming?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Writing programs that inspect and change themselves at runtime.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ah.  I used to do that in assembler.  I always felt like I was aiming 
>>> a shotgun between my toes.
>>>
>>> When did self-modifying code get rehabilitated?
>>
>>
>>
>> I think this was in the late 70's.
> 
> 
> Have you got a good reference for the uninitiated?

http://www.laputan.org/ref89/ref89.html and 
http://www.laputan.org/brant/brant.html are probably good starting 
points. http://www-db.stanford.edu/~paepcke/shared-documents/mopintro.ps 
is an excellent paper, but not for the faint of heart. ;)


Pascal

-- 
Pascal Costanza               University of Bonn
mailto:costanza at web.de        Institute of Computer Science III
http://www.pascalcostanza.de  Römerstr. 164, D-53117 Bonn (Germany)