[Python-Dev] Why is soundex marked obsolete?

[Eric S. Raymond]

Tim Peters <tim.one@home.com>:
> [Tim]
> > Actually, I'm certain they're the same algorithm now, except the C is
> > showing through in ratcliff to the floating-point eye <wink>.
> 
> [Eric]
> > Take a look:
> 
> Yup, same thing, except:
> 
> > static float ratcliff(char *s1, char *s2)
> 
> accounts for the numeric differences (change "float"->"double" and they'd be
> the same; Python has to convert it to a double anyway, lacking any internal
> support for C's floats; and the C code is *computing* in double regardless,
> cutting it back to a float upon return just because of the "float" decl).

OK, so the right answer is to make your version visible and documented
in the library.
-- 
		<a href="http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/">Eric S. Raymond</a>

No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound
to enforce it.  
	-- 16 Am. Jur. Sec. 177 late 2d, Sec 256