binary representation of an integer

[bearophileHUGS at lycos.com]

eliben:
> Python's pack/unpack don't have the binary format for some reason, so
> custom solutions have to be developed. One suggested in the ASPN
> cookbook is:http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/111286
> However, it is very general and thus inefficient.

Try mine, it may be fast enough for your purposes:
http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/440528

Bye,
bearophile