[Python-Dev] Please help complete the AST branch

[Guido van Rossum]

The AST branch has been "nearly complete" for several Python versions
now. The last time a serious effort was made was in May I believe, but
it wasn't enough to merge the code back into 2.4, alas.

It would be a real shame if this code was abandoned. If we're going to
make progress with things like type inferencing, integrating
PyChecker, or optional static type checking (see my blog on Artima --
I just finished rambling part II), the AST branch would be a much
better starting point than the current mainline bytecode compiler.
(Arguably, the compiler package, written in Python, would make an even
better start for prototyping, but I don't expect that it will ever be
fast enough to be Python's only bytecode compiler.)

So, I'm pleading. Please, someone, either from the established crew of
developers or a new volunteer (or more than one!), try to help out to
complete the work on the AST branch and merge it into 2.5.

I wish I could do this myself, and I *am* committed to more time for
Python than last year, but I think I should try to focus on language
design issues more than implementation issues. (Although I  haven't
heard what Larry Wall has been told -- apparently the Perl developers
don't want Larry writing code any more. :-)

Please, anyone? Raymond? Neil? Facundo? Brett?

-- 
--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)