Trivial performance questions

[Michael Hudson]

"Brian Patterson" <bp at computastore.com> writes:

> >> I appreciate that these are trivial in the extreme, but I seem to be
> >> writing dozens of them, and I may as well use the right one and
> >> squeeze what performance I can.
> 
> > This is an unhelpful attitude.  You're writing in Python after all!
> 
> I have never considered using the fastest available option to be an
> unhelpful attitude, especially when it does not impact on readability.  

That's not what you said!

> It occurred to me that someone more knowledgable might know whether
> there was a 'right' answer to these trivial questions.
> 
> However, it appears not.  Sorry for wasting your time :(

Well, it was hardly a waste.

> Thanks for the tip on the getattr default.  This is much cleaner to read,
> almost certainly quicker, and will serve the purpose well.  I had convinced
> myself that it was not available in 2.1.3.

No, I think it's (at least) 1.5.2 vintage...

Cheers,
mwh

-- 
  ARTHUR:  Why should a rock hum?
    FORD:  Maybe it feels good about being a rock.
                    -- The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Episode 8