Rationale for core Python numeric types

[Matt Feinstein]

Hi all--

I'm new to Python, and was somewhat taken aback to discover that the
core language lacks some basic numerical types (e.g., single-precision
float, short integers). I realize that there are extensions that add
these types-- But what's the rationale for leaving them out? Have I
wandered into a zone in the space/time continuum where people never
have to read binary data files?

Matt Feinstein

--
There is no virtue in believing something that can be proved to be true.