[Python-Dev] A new webpage promoting Compiler technology for CPython

[Stefan Behnel]

Philip Jenvey, 16.02.2013 01:01:
> On Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 2:36 PM, Stefan Behnel wrote:
>> So, while I agree that PyPy is worth a try in certain application areas,
>> and can be helpful for some special needs, also in the field of scientific
>> computing, it's lightyears away from a production-ready state in that area.
>> It just doesn't integrate with the huge bulk of software that people use in
>> their daily work. And once you rely on that software, which is hand tuned,
>> well integrated and real-world proven in so many ways, over the time span
>> of way more than a decade, the most visible advantage of PyPy to make
>> Python code run faster becomes almost pointless. In that light, telling
>> people to try PyPy and to drop (most of) their current ecosystem for it
>> doesn't really sound helpful and clearly appears outside of the focus of
>> the web site in question.
> 
> I disagree that it's pointless. Numba disagrees too: it also attempts to
> make Python code faster.

That's not even the main goal AFAIK, but in any case, it does it from the
very inside of the existing ecosystem, like all of the compilers (and
related software) that are listed on the website. That's the whole point.


> PyPy is indeed a work in progress in this area, but that doesn't
> necessarily preclude it from being included.

That may be a matter of POV, but as long as PyPy fails to integrate (and
you just called that "not a main focus"), I find it hard to defend its
relevance.

Stefan