[Python-ideas] Decimal literal?

[Chris Rebert]

Ok, so just to summarize should anyone bring up this same issue again
and come upon this thread:

* Decimal literals are a possibly good idea, but a fast C
implementation with a Python-compatible license (which as of this
writing does not yet exist) would be a necessary prerequisite
* Making decimals the default instead of floats would be controversial
to say the least and would definitely require further
analysis+discussion

Cheers,
Chris

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On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 3:02 AM, Chris Rebert <clp at rebertia.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 2:50 AM, Raymond Hettinger <python at rcn.com> wrote:
>> From: "Raymond Hettinger"
>>>
>>> Last time I looked, the existing C implementations out there were license
>>> compatible with Python.
>>
>> That should have said "incompatible".
>>
>
> decNumber is available under the ICU License, which seems to be a
> variant of the original BSD license. Depending on exactly how the
> acknowledgement clause is interpreted (IANAL), it seems like it might
> be compatible. If not, IBM, which has copyright on decNumber, seems to
> have a fairly pro-open-source stance historically; perhaps if asked
> nicely by the community, they would be willing to relicense decNumber
> under the revised BSD license (a very minor change vs. the ICU
> License), which would certainly be compatible with Python's licensing
> policy.
>
> Or maybe there exists another library that's already compatible.
> Perhaps I'll investigate.
>
> But the key here is we should first determine whether people want
> decimal to be built-in and have a literal. Once that's established,
> then the details as to implementing that should be investigated. But
> yes, practicality and feasibility certainly are factors in all this.
>
> Cheers,
> Chris
>
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> Follow the path of the Iguana...
> http://rebertia.com
>