[Tutor] filling 2d array with zeros

[Alex Hall]

On 9/28/10, Steven D'Aprano <steve at pearwood.info> wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:56:33 am Alex Hall wrote:
>> > (But don't forget that Python is not necessarily written in C.
>> > There's Jython, written in Java, and CLPython written in Lisp, and
>> > many others. How they implement objects may be different. What
>> > happens under the hood isn't important, so long as the behaviour at
>> > the Python level remains the same.)
>>
>> Really? Neat! I wonder what the advantage of doing that is, since the
>> end result, as you say, should be the same once you start writing
>> Python code?
>
> Different implementations can make different choices, to suit different
> needs. So long as the end result is the same, they can choose different
> mechanisms, different techniques, radically different strategies, or
> simply choose a different implementation language because they can.
>
> CPython is a conservative implementation written in ordinary C so that
> it is available on almost any platform that has a C compiler.
> Efficiency is not its primary goal, clarity of code and simplicity of
> design is considered just as important. This is almost certainly the
> version you are using.
Probably, I just got 2.6 from python.org.
>
> Unladen Swallow is a version of CPython written by Google that aims to
> speed up certain time-critical parts. If it works, it may end up being
> merged with the regular CPython. Unfortunately, after a flash of
> publicity and some promising early results, Unladen Swallow seems to
> have gone quiet.
>
> PyPy is a version of Python written in Python. It has an incredible
> mission: to eventually produce versions of Python which are faster than
> pure C, despite being written in Python itself. Although they have a
> long, long way to go, they are making good progress, and PyPy can now
> run Python code faster than CPython. PyPy is becoming a generalised
> Just-In-Time compiler for high-level languages like Python.
Okay, I now have to go investigate this and see how it is even
possible; somewhere, the Python code has to get down to machine
code...
>
> IronPython and Jython are designed to integrate with Dot-Net and Java.
> IronPython is probably written in C#, like most Dot-Net software, and
> Jython is written in Java.
>
> Stackless Python is similar to CPython except it doesn't have a function
> call stack, which is good for certain specialist applications.
I'll take your word for it, but it seems like you could then not use
OO since a function's return would have no idea where to go. I was
once forced to try LISP, MIPS machine language, and a functionless
Basic, and I hated them.
>
> Pynie is an experimental version of Python written for the Parrot
> virtual machine used by Perl 6.
>
> CapPython is a restricted version of Python which aims to be much more
> secure, allowing you to safely run untrusted code without it eating
> your computer.
>
> And there are many more... I count at least 41 current or past Python
> implementations, add-ons and related projects. My favourite (apart from
> PyPy, which makes me feel all warm and tingly in that special place) is
> LikePython:
>
> http://www.staringispolite.com/likepython/
>
>
> #!usr/bin/python
> # My first Like, Python script!
> yo just print like "hello world" bro

...interesting. This, too, will have to be looked at, if only because
it is so different. Thanks for all the info!
>
>
> I can't wait to put that on my resume :)
>
>
>
>
> --
> Steven D'Aprano
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-- 
Have a great day,
Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
mehgcap at gmail.com; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap