[Python-Dev] GPython?

[Stefan Behnel]

Brett Cannon wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 18:05, Terry Reedy wrote:
>> If one adds type annotations so that values can be unboxed, would not
>> Cython, etc, do even better for speedup?
> 
> Nope as Unladen is planning to re-implement the eval loop, something Cython
> doesn't optimize without the need to suddenly start adding type annotations
> to code.

Sorry, but this is not correct.

When you let Cython compile a standard Python module, it will not use
Python's eval loop inside the module. It is only used by module external
code. And you can use "pyximport" to let Cython (try to) also compile
external modules on-the-import. This even works for a couple of stdlib
modules by now.

And you are not required to use type annotations to compile your code into
a faster C module. Cython is often faster than CPython by 10-30% even for
plain Python code. Plus, you can use function decorators for type
annotations to keep your code 100% Python (2.4) compatible, and you can put
a .pxd file with type annotations next to your .py module to provide the
type annotations externally. This can get you a speedup of factors, without
modifying your Python code at all.

Stefan