[Numpy-discussion] Different attributes for NumPy types

[Robert Kern]

On Thu, May 22, 2008 at 4:25 PM, Bruce Southey <bsouthey at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, May 22, 2008 at 2:59 PM, Robert Kern <robert.kern at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Thu, May 22, 2008 at 2:46 PM, Charles R Harris
>> <charlesr.harris at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> It also leads to various inconsistencies:
>>>
>>> In [1]: float32(array([[1]]))
>>> Out[1]: array([[ 1.]], dtype=float32)
>>>
>>> In [2]: float64(array([[1]]))
>>> Out[2]: 1.0
>>
>> Okay, so don't do that. Always use x.astype(dtype) or asarray(x, dtype).
>
> So, should these return an error if the argument is an ndarray object,
> a list or similar?

I think it was originally put in as a feature, but given the
inconsistency and the long-standing alternatives, I would deprecate
its use for converting array dtypes. But that's just my opinion.

> Otherwise, int, float and string type of arguments would be okay under
> the assumption that people would like variable precision scalars.

Yes.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless
enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as
though it had an underlying truth."
 -- Umberto Eco