Greetings, The purpose of this idea is to expand a bit on the decimal default idea which I submitted previously. In this idea I want to suggest the human idea of a *python number.* The concept is very simple, yet may have far reaching implications not only for future python(s) but also for the wider adaptation of python in the greater academic and professional communities. The idea of *python number* means that there are no types, no limits, no constraints, and that all *python numbers *are dynamic. The upper level syntax is also very simple; all* python numbers *are simply human. My influence for this preference is rooted in the Rexx programming language; attributed to Mike Cowlishaw, former IBM fellow. The Rexx programming language is dynamic, and has no types. To put it more succinctly for those of you who have not used Rexx, the only data type is a string of characters (that's it). *Rexx numbers* are simply those strings of characters that may be interpreted as a valid *Rexx number.* http://books.google.com/books?id=cNiVqFmPs8AC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=rexx+numbers&source=bl&ots=SNv00ARBqU&sig=cbRb2pqCsZpYhIXtGUXTDxmtqkw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OpQWU-XuPMT70gHhooG4BA&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=rexx%20numbers&f=false The Python language might be changed to adopt the *python number* concept for *all math processing*, unless explicitly modified. This goes somewhat beyond using decimal floating point as a default numerical type. It means using human numeric expressions that meet human expectation for numeric processing by default. Under the covers (whatever we mean by that) processing is handled by decimal.Decimal, unless explicitly modified. What does this mean for python users in general? Well, no more worrying about types at all... no ints, no floats, no rationals, no irrationals, no fractions, and certainly no binaries. In short, if its a human number, its a *python number.* I am expecting that (just as in Rexx numbers) defining very clearly what is a *python number* will be key for wide adaptation of the concept. But there should be no surprises for users, particularly average users. Anyone with a middle school expectation of a numeric format should be able to use *python numbers *without surprises. However, for advanced users the full interface should be available (as is the context for Decimal) through coding based on knowledge and experience, yet the default context for Decimal should be based on average users in most environments and use cases. It is my belief that Python should lead the way in the twenty-first century for advanced computation for academic, professional, business, and scientific communities. There is a 40 year momentum for embedded binary floats & doubles, also numeric types generally, but it is time to move forward. The technology is ready, and the need is great. Let's do it. {shameless plug} pdeclib https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pdeclib Thank you for your consideration. Good evening. Mark H Harris marcus