Native Code vs. Python code for modules

[Paddy]

On Jul 30, 4:56 am, koblas <kob... at gmail.com> wrote:
> Ruby has been getting pummeled for the last year or more on the
> performance subject.  They've been working hard at improving it.  From
> my arm chair perspective Python is sitting on it's laurels and not
> taking this as seriously as it probably should.

I personally DON'T think that the developers should be chasing down
every micro-benchmark. Someone has to look-up and see the bigger
picture.
If you take a look at a larger set of micro benchmarks, then Ruby
is below par when compared to Python and Perl on speed. I had the
misfortune to read their development group entries when a critical
bug was 'fixed' by a release from Japan that didn't have enough
testing and so think the Ruby development 'group' have problems of
quality that they also need to address. (And are doing I think by
adding to their test-suite).

PyPy and previous tools like Psyco are ways in which Python
developers are continuing to see above the eternal grind of micro-
optimising the C-interpreter to try and give us tools that can
approach compiled language speeds from the language we love.
I like to think of it as working smarter rather than harder - the
brains a much better muscle :-)

- Paddy.