[SciPy-dev] [SciPy-user] 'object_arrtype' problem

[Travis Oliphant]

Ryan Krauss wrote:

>What do you mean by "hand off behavior of the object to the underlying
>object in all cases"?
>  
>

All arrays return array scalars.  This allows us to control the math and 
the methods of the returned objects.  This is very useful for the 
regular arrays.  Object arrays simply inherited that behavior and 
therefore there is an "object"-array type.  (Run type() on one of your 
returned objects...)  In this case, though, the array object contains a 
pointer to another object (that's the thing that has the methods and 
attributes you wanted).

There is the obvious question as to whether or not having a separate 
object array-scalar type is even useful, though.  It does provide 
consistency of behavior but I think the expense is too high in this case.

Right now, I'm leaning to having OBJECT arrays return the actual object 
like Numeric did.   This will mean, of course that they won't have the 
array methods and there will be an "except-for object arrays" cluttered 
throughout documentation, but I think it's a better compromise solution .

The change is not difficult and could be done in about 30 minutes. 

I'd like to hear from people as to what their attitude is:

1) Have object arrays return the actual Python object like Numeric did 
but different from all other array types which return an "array-scalar" 
type.

2) Keep the current behavior but soup up the object array type so it 
"works better".  I don't think we could ever make a generic object that 
can always respond as any other object, though, so there will be minor 
issues regardless.

Let me know.

-Travis