[Python-Dev] Persistent Python - a la Smalltalk

[Albert Zeyer]

Hi,

I was thinking about a persistent Python interpreter system. I.e. you
start a Python interpreter instance and you load and create all your
objects, classes and code in there (or load it in there from other
files).

The basic idea is that you wont restart your Python script, you would
always modify it on-the-fly. Or a bit less extreme: You would at least
have the possibility with this to do this (like just doing minor
changes). Also, if your PC halts for whatever reason, you can continue
your Python script after a restart.

This goes along my other recent proposal to store the AST of
statements in the related code objects
(http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.python.devel/126754). An internal
editor could then edit this AST and recompile the code object.

For the persistance, there would be an image file containing all the
Python objects.

All in all, much like most Smalltalk systems.

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Has anyone done something like this already?

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There are a few implementation details which are not trivial and there
doesn't seem to be straight forward solutions, e.g. most generally:

* How to implement the persistance?
* How to handle image compatibility between CPython updates? Even possible?

Regards,
Albert