[Numpy-discussion] Integers to integer powers, let's make a decision

[V. Armando Sole]

Also in favor of 2. Always return a float for '**'

On 04.06.2016 21:47, josef.pktd at gmail.com wrote:
> On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 3:43 PM, Charles R Harris
> <charlesr.harris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On Sat, Jun 4, 2016 at 11:22 AM, Charles R Harris
>> <charlesr.harris at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi All,
>>> 
>>> I've made a new post so that we can make an explicit decision.
>>> AFAICT, the two proposals are
>>> 
>>> * Integers to negative integer powers raise an error.
>>> * Integers to integer powers always results in floats.
>>> 
>>> My own sense is that 1. would be closest to current behavior and
>>> using a float exponential when a float is wanted is an explicit
>>> way to indicate that desire. OTOH, 2. would be the most convenient
>>> default for everyday numerical computation, but I think would more
>>> likely break current code. I am going to come down on the side of
>>> 1., which I don't think should cause too many problems if we start
>>> with a {Future, Deprecation}Warning explaining the workaround.
> 
> I'm in favor of 2.  always float for `**`
> I don't see enough pure integer usecases to throw away a nice
> operator.