[Python-Dev] minimal stackless (original) (raw)

Vladimir Marangozov Vladimir.Marangozov@inrialpes.fr
Sat, 12 Aug 2000 21:16:17 +0200 (CEST)

I'd like to clarify my position about the mythical Stackless issue.

I would be okay to evaluate a minimal stackless implementation of the current VM, and eventually consider it for inclusion if it doesn't slow down the interpreter (and if it does, I don't know yet how much would be tolerable).

However, I would be willing to do this only if such implementation is distilled from the call/cc stuff completely.

That is, a minimal stackless implementation which gives us an equivalent VM as we have it today with the C stack. This is what I'd like to see first in the stackless PEP too. No mixtures with continuations & co.

The call/cc issue is "application domain" for me -- it relies on top of the minimal stackless and would come only as an exported interface to the control flow management of the VM. Therefore, it must be completely optional (both in terms of lazy decision on whether it should be included someday).

So, if such distilled, minimal stackless implementation hits the SourceForge shelves by the next week, I, at least, will give it a try and will report impressions. By that time, it would also be nice to see a clear summary of the frame management ideas in the 1st draft of the PEP.

If the proponents of Stackless are ready for the challenge, give it a go (this seems to be a required first step in the right direction anyway).

I can't offer any immediate help though, given the list of Python-related tasks I'd like to finish (as always, done in my spare minutes) and I'll be almost, if not completely, unavailable the last week of August.

-- Vladimir MARANGOZOV | Vladimir.Marangozov@inrialpes.fr http://sirac.inrialpes.fr/~marangoz | tel:(+33-4)76615277 fax:76615252