detect interactivity

[Dave Angel]

Steve Holden wrote:
> Roald de Vries wrote:
>   
>> On Dec 30, 2009, at 2:28 AM, Dave Angel wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> Roald de Vries wrote:
>>>       
>>> <snip>
>>> mehow define a different set of functions???
>>>       
>> I'm using a database, and want to use python interactively to manipulate
>> it. On the other hand, I also want to be able to use it
>> non-interactively. In that case, it would be a waste of CPU to load the
>> function/class definitions meant for interactive use.
>>
>>     
> This is an extreme case of premature optimization. Write the code and
> run it. Do you have any idea how much extra time and memory loading the
> additional code will require? If not, it's a waste of your time to even
> think about omitting the stuff required for interactive use.
>
> Once you get a handle on the structures and functions required for
> interactive vs. non-interactive use you can consider refactoring the
> code so that the non-interactive programs don't need to import the stuff
> that's exclusively for interactive use. But frankly I wouldn't waste
> your time.
>
> regards
>  Steve
>   

Ron:
You'd be surprised how little additional space and time a few functions 
take up.

But in any case, if (after measurement) you decide you really want them 
to be optional, then just have a different module that the interactive 
users import than the one that you run in production.  Have both modules 
import the bulk of the code, and keep the differences in one place.

It's also possible to build stubs for the missing functions, and import 
them and overwrite the stubs, upon first reference.  I've done that sort 
of thing in other language environments, when it made a definite 
measurable difference (like say 50%)

DaveA