[SciPy-user] default dtype for integer arrays

[George Nurser]

On 2 Jan 2006, at 13:53, Ed Schofield wrote:

> Francesc Altet wrote:
>
>> A Dilluns 02 Gener 2006 03:38, Ed Schofield va escriure:
>>
>>
>>> +5 on changing the default to float.  I think we'd look back on this
>>> decision in several years as difficult but right.
>>>
>>>
>> Sorry, but I don't agree. If we want Python to include the container
>> for array objects, making the default be double seems to stress the
>> fact that this object is meant primarily for scientific use (which is
>> true to some extent). However, for the sake of stablishing a *real*
>> standard to keep datasets, I'd advocate the default to remain int. In
>> addition, there are a lot of uses for integer arrays (indices,
>> images...). IMO, making the double the default would discourage the
>> use of the object between people not used to write
>> scientific/technical apps.
>>
>> The only issue is the possible confusion in users when they will
>> receive Int32 arrays in 32-bit platforms and Int64 arrays in 64-bit
>> ones.

Excuse my putting in a (probably ignorant) point here.
We use 32-bit integers for our data, even on the 64-bit machines. If  
the default for integer arrays remained at 32 bits on 64 bit  
machines, or was user definable, this would be very helpful.

Regards, George Nurser.