[Python-Dev] 64-bit process optimization 1 (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido@python.org
Tue, 10 Sep 2002 09:54:58 -0400

> Unfortunately, one problem is binary compatibility. We try to make it > possible to link newer Python versions with extension modules (like > Numeric, which you use) compiled for older versions. This requires > that the binary lay-out of objects remains the same, and swapping > obrefcnt and obtype would cause immediate crashes in this case.

a compromise could be to make the swap in 2.3, but only on 64-bit platforms. it's obvious that most people are stuck on 32-bit platforms today, and I think it's safe to say that users on 64-bit plat- forms might be a bit more willing to build everything they need on their local platform. another alternative would be to make it a configuration option, with a platform-dependent default.

I like all of that. Maybe it should also be a config option whether refcount, sizes etc. should be 32 or 64 bit quantities on 64 bit platforms.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)