Python's Performance

[Ron Adam]

Steven D'Aprano wrote:

> For what it is worth, Python is compiled AND interpreted -- it compiles
> byte-code which is interpreted in a virtual machine. That makes it an
> compiling interpreter, or maybe an interpreting compiler, in my book.

Good points, and in addition to this, the individual byte codes and many 
builtin routines in python are compiled 'C' code.  So it's really a 
matter of how many level of indirect references are between the the 
application code and the internal cpu registers.  Even in assembly 
language you can program though indirect data structures to simplify 
overall program design.

I really think the performance differences will get narrower as Python 
is developed further.  I for one would much rather have a language I can 
program new things in a matter of days, rather than one which would 
require a few thousand pages of reference material just to figure out 
where to start.

If I was forced to go back to MS C++ again, I think I would take up 
painting instead of programing as my main hobby.

;-)

Cheers,
    Ron