[Python-ideas] Floating point contexts in Python core

[Steven D'Aprano]

On 11/10/12 16:45, Greg Ewing wrote:
> Alexander Belopolsky wrote:
>
>> I gave this idea +float('inf') in the other thread and was thinking about it
>> since. I am now toying with the idea to unify float and decimal in Python.
>
> Are you sure there would be any point in this? People who
> specifically *want* base-2 floats are probably quite happy
> with the current float type, and wouldn't appreciate having
> it slowed down, even by a small amount.

I would gladly give up a small amount of speed for better control
over floats, such as whether 1/0.0 raised an exception or
returned infinity.

If I wanted fast code, I'd be using C. I'm happy with *fast enough*.

For example, 1/0.0 in a continued fraction is generally harmless,
provided it returns infinity. If it raises an exception, you have
to write slow, ugly code to evaluate continued fractions robustly.
I wouldn't expect 1/0.0 -> infinity to becomes the default, but
I'd like a runtime switch to turn it on and off as needed.



-- 
Steven