[pypy-dev] Mixed modules for both PyPy and CPython

[Armin Rigo]

Hi Holger,

On Fri, Apr 14, 2006 at 07:44:12PM +0200, holger krekel wrote:
> Hum, i wonder how strongly opposed these explicit versus implicit
> level separation models need to be.

Yes, you're right here.  It's mostly about what we need to do next: we
must choose one of the two models and develop it enough, until it
becomes useful for PyPy and CPython alike.  We could possibly do both
models in parallel, but I'm not sure it's the best way forward at this
point.

> Is it not possible to support a 
> programming model that can mostly avoid knowing about interpreter versus 
> application level distinction without extending/refactoring the annotator?

Sure, no-one thinks about refactoring the annotator.  The implicit model
already works, by using the existing support for SomeObjects, completed
by Christian over the time.  It's a bit hackish, though, and we'll
definitely need ways to control where SomeObjects are expected or not.
At the moment, what makes me reluctant to continue with the implicit
model are two other issues: on the one hand, it's unclear how it would
work for PyPy (it works for CPython only); and there are many language
design issues ahead that I'd rather avoid for the time being.

> "explicit" approach nicely working before experimenting with where 
> we can go from there, right?

Yes, exactly my opinion.

> (Btw, i wouldn't
> mind if such glue code would not allow all possible interactions - 
> our primary goal is not to provide seemless integration with CPython here).

I'm not too worried about this.  Our mixed-module model already supports
mostly any kind of interaction, including defining new types with
properties and overridden operations.  The path to support the same for
CPython extension modules is more or less clear, and very incremental.


A bientot,

Armin.