[Python-Dev] RE: [Numpy-discussion] RE: Possible bug (was Re: numpy, overflow, inf, ieee, and rich comparison)

[Nick Bower]

> Does anyone know what other array-oriented languages use? I know what
> MATLAB does:

I'm an Interactive Data Language or IDL user (the Univ of Wisconsin's 
Space Science Ceter is split down the middle between this and MatLab,  
but python/numpy is definitely on the increase).  As you can see from 
results below, like MatLab over/under-flows in IDL are reported but do 
not stop execution.  This is the best (only) possible scenario for an 
interactive arrays and visualization environment.

IDL> print, exp(-777)
      0.00000
% Program caused arithmetic error: Floating underflow
IDL> print, exp(777)
          Inf
% Program caused arithmetic error: Floating overflow
IDL> print, sqrt(-1)
         -NaN
% Program caused arithmetic error: Floating illegal operand
IDL> print, 54/0
      54
% Program caused arithmetic error: Integer divide by 0