[Python-Dev] PEP: Adding data-type objects to Python

[Travis E. Oliphant]

Greg Ewing wrote:
> Travis E. Oliphant wrote:
>> PEP: <unassigned>
>> Title: Adding data-type objects to the standard library
> 
> Not sure about having 3 different ways to specify
> the structure -- it smacks of Too Many Ways To Do
> It to me.

You might be right, but they all have use-cases.  I've actually removed 
most of the multiple ways that NumPy allows for creating data-types.

> 
> Also, what if I want to refer to fields by name
> but don't want to have to work out all the offsets

I don't know what you mean.   You just use the list-style to define a 
data-format with fields.  The offsets are worked out for you.   The only 
use for offsets was the dictionary form.  The dictionary form stems from 
a desire to use the fields dictionary of a data-type as a data-type 
specification (which it is essentially is).

-Travis