On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:04 AM, Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> wrote:
Chris Rebert wrote: <snip>
3. (in Python 4.0/Python 4000) making decimal the default instead of float, with floats instead requiring a 'f' suffix
Decimal is not just a decimal arithmetic module. It implements and will track a particular complex, specialized, possibly changeable standard controlled by IBM, which already has a few crazy quirks present for commercial rather than technical reasons. This is fine for an add-on class but not, in my opinion, for Python's default fraction arithmetic. If Python's developers did consider replacing floats in that role, I would prefer either fractions or a much simplified decimal type designed by us for general purpose needs.
I'll just point out that GvR seemed to favor the general idea (along with a transition mechanism) in the old thread I mentioned in my original post; otherwise I'd have been much more wary of including #3. I can't speak to how good the standard is comparatively except that the Python devs must have chosen it over others or a custom one for good reason, and at least it's better than plain floats. The PEP mentions it being almost completely ANSI/IEEE-compliant and that it has already taken into account the evil corner cases. Cheers, Chris -- Follow the path of the Iguana... http://rebertia.com
Terry Jan Reedy
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