[Python-Dev] String hash function multiplier

[Tim Peters]

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> Unrelated to this thread, what does "stepping" mean?  A quick Google
> search for "Pentium stepping glossary" yielded this page
>
>   http://processorfinder.intel.com/scripts/help3.asp
>
> but doesn't explain why Intel uses "stepping" instead of "version" or
> "revision".

It means "minor revision".  Major revisions are usually given names (my
current P4 was/is known as "Northwood").  I don't know why minor revisions
are called steppings -- I've never been a HW guy, although the term has been
in common use among HW guys I've known.