[Matrix-SIG] Numpy in Viper

[Phil Austin]

 > [John Skaller asks ...]
 > > ...
 > > 	The question is: why would a _numerical_ programmer
 > > want a C API at all, if they had a high performance compiler?
 > > [The answer 'compatibility' is obvious. Any other?]
 > 

Note that any successful numerical language is also going to have to be
able to generate data in some portable format (of which there are
dozens), and interface cleanly to graphics apis like Opengl.

It's also important to remember how collaborative modern science is.
I'm currently working with a dozen colleagues (plus their students) at
five institutions, all actively developing and sharing thousands of
lines of (mainly Fortran) code.  The likelihood that any of them will
learn Python, not to mention Viper, in the next 2-3 years is near
zero.


_______________
Phil Austin		INTERNET: paustin@eos.ubc.ca
(604) 822-2175		FAX:	  (604) 822-6150

Associate Professor
Atmospheric Sciences Programme
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
University of British Columbia