[Python-Dev] I think my set module is ready for prime time; comments?

[uche.ogbuji@fourthought.com]

> All very well, but are sets really that essential to every
> day Python programming ?

Not everyday, but as I said, the standard library has zlib, expat, tkinter, 
colorsys, and a whole lot of other stuff that is undoubtedly less useful than 
a set class.

> If we include sets then we ought to
> also include graphs, tries, btrees

I see all of these as far less commonly useful than sets (at least in 
situations where implementations using existing data structures won't suffice).

I run into needs for sets all the time.  I don't have as much trouble with 
your other examples, though I've always considered tries as a possible 
performance boost in XPath.  Oddly enough another data structure I often wish 
I had is a splay tree, and I hope to wrap my old C++ splay tree implementation 
for Python one of these days.

> and all those other goodies
> we have in computer science. All of these types are available
> out there, but I believe the audience who really cares for these
> types is also capable of downloading the extensions and installing
> them.
> 
> It would be nice if all of these extension could go into a SUMO
> edition of Python though... together with your set module.

Considering "batteries included", it's worth considering these very important 
"batteries".


-- 
Uche Ogbuji                               Principal Consultant
uche.ogbuji@fourthought.com               +1 303 583 9900 x 101
Fourthought, Inc.                         http://Fourthought.com 
4735 East Walnut St, Ste. C, Boulder, CO 80301-2537, USA
Software-engineering, knowledge-management, XML, CORBA, Linux, Python