Bruce Southey wrote:
Hi, Since we are discussing namespace and standardization, I am curious in why there are multiple definitions for defining infinity in numpy when perhaps there should be two (one for positive infinity and one for negative infinity). I really do understand that other people have use of these definitions and that it is easier to leave them in than take them out. Also, it is minor reduction in namespace because I do know that much of the namespace is either defining variables (like different floats and complex numbers) or mathematical functions (like logs and trig functions).
Currently we have: numpy.Inf numpy.Infinity numpy.inf numpy.infty numpy.NINF numpy.PINF
Most of these are defined in numeric.py: 'Inf = inf = infty = Infinity = PINF' In the f2py/tests subdirectories, the files return_real.py and return_complex.py uses both 'inf','Infinity'. The only occurrence of NINF and PINF are in core/src/umathmodule.c but I don't see any other usage. There does not seem to be any use of 'infty'.
I think this is a product of bringing together a few definitions into one and not forcing a standard. numpy.inf numpy.nan should be used except for backward compatibility. -Travis