My main concern is not that I can't find a multiset package that meets my needs, but rather that I have to look for and then integrate the combinatorial algorithms that I need to use with multisets.
With 'sets and itertools' I have the type and I have the four main combinatorial algorithms I need readily packaged and very widely used tested in this combination of 'a type with associated algorithms'.
But for multisets and combinatorial algorithms I have to do the integration of the type and the algorithms myself and I see this as less than ideal for two reasons.
Firstly this combination is tested by me alone and gets none of the benefits of widespread testing that come from a 'community wide integration' such as that which we have with 'sets and itertools'. Secondly although I am fairly confident that I am not completely alone in wanting this combination, there is no obvious way of creating a community that would lead to the emergence of a combined effort to support this 'type/algorithm' integration.
The stdlib ilib has a very high barrier to entry -- it's one of the hardest way to get this kind of integration.
As I said, I haven't had a need to multisets, but I as you say -- what's needed is an integration of a type and a set of algorithms. So I'd suggest that one of two options is available for finding that community:
1) Add algorithms to the multiset package
2) Add a Multiset to more-itertools
You might reach out to the maintainers of those two packages to see if they are interested.
If not, the third option of course is to build a new package -- as you say, it's hard to get a community around that, but if it is generally useful and you build something good -- maybe people will come. If not, you still have some nice tools to use yourself :-)
Good luck,
-CHB
Brian
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Christopher Barker, PhD (Chris)
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