why sqrt is not a built-in function?

[dn]

On 15/01/2021 06.44, Denys Contant wrote:
> I don't understand why sqrt is not a built-in function. 
> Why do we have to first import the function from the math module?
> I use it ALL THE TIME!
> 
> That felt good. Thank you.


Are you 'venting', or do you have a specific frustration-induced question?


Much of my training work centers on HTML5. An issue which you will have
experienced as a user (if not an HTML5 coder), is how long it takes for
certain pages to load or to respond to a 'click'.

We talk of the "weight" of the page. Sadly, in a bid to "capture
eye-balls" and/or to prove how much smarter 'I' am (than any other
web-author/JavaScript-er), there are (far too) many reasons why
web-pages are adorned and accompanied by myriad scripts (and likely,
whole libraries/frameworks), and thus become slow (or 'heavy').


What does this have to do with Python?

As an "interpreted language" Python will (tend to) execute slowly when
compared with a "compiled language".
(ignoring 'shades and grades', and purity of definition)

Another form of delay/slow-ness, is how long it takes a program(me) to
start (in the eyes of the user). Another form of 'weight', and component
of start-up time is how much storage is required to hold the code
(excluding any data).


An advantage of Python is that it has a small 'core'. Mark Summerfield
(author) refers to it as "Python's beautiful heart". The minimised core
(or should that be "optimised"?) is fast to load, and occupies minimal
resource.

As a consequence, you and I may well grumble that we have to import the
math library - every time we code some non-trivial calculation. However,
in doing-so we (should) compute a conscious cost-benefit analysis:
knowing that to include the library will incur a resource-cost, but that
its facilities will improve the accuracy and/or efficiency (eg speed) of
our work. OK, so sign me up!

Contrarily, people who don't 'work with numbers', eg other threads
'here' discussing character manipulation; don't experience any longer
waiting-time or 'suffer' extra resource-cost, due to loading the math
library, from which they/their code will receive no benefit at all!


Thus, one of the philosophies of Python I keenly appreciate (that makes
me "[feel] good", to borrow your words), is that not only are "batteries
included", but I don't have to carry-around any 'spare batteries' that I
don't actually need right now!

(even more applicable when using MicroPython, etc)
-- 
Regards =dn