[Python-ideas] Pre-PEP: adding a statistics module to Python

[Ethan Furman]

On 08/02/2013 03:52 PM, Andrew Barnert wrote:
> On Aug 2, 2013, at 13:18, Andrew McNabb <amcnabb at mcnabbs.org> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Aug 02, 2013 at 01:37:58PM -0500, Brian Curtin wrote:
>>>
>>> Like everything else we add, shouldn't a module live in the Python
>>> ecosystem, standout as the best of breed, and *then* be proposed for
>>> inclusion?
>>
>> As Steven pointed out, numpy/scipy are best of breed in the Python
>> ecosystem, but they're too "advanced" for inclusion in the standard
>> library.  There's room for a standard implementation, but the module
>> wouldn't be complex enough to require years of development outside the
>> standard library.
>
> Years of development, no. But a few months on PyPI (with people pointing to it from places like python-list and StackOverflow) would capture a lot wider experience and testing than just a discussion on this list.
>
>>
>
> Also, if it's reasonably possible to make the implementation work for 3.0-3.3 (or even 2.6-3.3) a PyPI module will remain useful as a quasi-official backport even after acceptance in the stdlib.
>
> So, I don't think short-circuiting the process is a good idea unless there's a really compelling reason to do so.

The compelling reasons are listed in the PEP.  The two most important in my mind are:

   1) easy to get wrong if doing it DIY

   2) not being able to access third-party code (or only with great pain)

--
~Ethan~