[IPython-dev] Using Google App Engine channels instead of zmq in new IPython

[Fernando Perez]

On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 2:32 PM, Brian Granger <ellisonbg at gmail.com> wrote:
> At this point, ZeroMQ is not a minor implementation detail of IPython,
> it is really our secret sauce.  ZeroMQ has abstractions, such as
> queues and messaging patterns, that go beyond simple point to point
> messaging and we rely on those throughout the code base.  I don't see
> how ZeroMQ could be replaced without rewriting good parts of IPython.

Very true.  Furthermore, we are working on integrating more and more
the code that runs a single interactive kernel with that used by
engines in a parallel setting, to make use of the parallel tools more
seamless with the rest of our clients (notebook, qt console, etc).
And the parallel code is pretty much unthinkable without zeromq, as
this diagram should make fairly clear:

http://ipython.org/ipython-doc/dev/development/parallel_connections.html

So I concur with Brian, that pulling zmq out of ipython is probably
not a very realistic goal, and at least it's not one that we have in
our radar to commit any effort towards.  Obviously the code is all
there, and if you find ways of using IPython successfully for Sage
without zmq, that's great.  I just think that from our side, there
won't be work put in that direction, given how many other things are
on our plate and how much we continue to build *upon* zmq rather than
wanting to move away from it.

Cheers,

f