[Python-Dev] Proper tail recursion

[Michael Walter]

I think it's pretty cool as it gives the programmer more freetime to
use "functional style".

Cheers,
Michael

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 19:45:01 +0100, Michael Hudson <mwh at python.net> wrote:
> Christopher T King <squirrel at WPI.EDU> writes:
> 
> > JanC recommended I post this on python-dev to get feedback.  To sum
> > up the previous posts in my thread on comp.lang.python, I've created
> > a patch that optimizes tail calls in the CPython interpreter, so
> > that the stack is not used for functions called in a tail context.
> 
> I guess I could have said this in c.l.py, but: what's the point?  I
> don't think I've ever had a situation where hitting the recursion
> limit wasn't a bug, and given a) the ease with which a non-contrivedly
> tail recursive algorithm can usually be rewritten iteratively and b)
> the (lack of) speed of function calls in today's Python I can't see
> any huge real advantage to this patch.
> 
> It's a cute hack though :-)
> 
> Cheers,
> mwh
> 
> --
>   if-you-need-your-own-xxx.py-you-know-where-to-shove-it<wink>-ly
>   y'rs - tim
>               -- Tim Peters dishes out versioning advice on python-dev
> 
> 
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