[Python-Dev] trunc() (original) (raw)

Raymond Hettinger python at rcn.com
Thu Jan 24 22:11:54 CET 2008


[Raymond Hettinger]

Since something similar is happening to math.ceil and math.floor, I'm curious why trunc() ended-up in builtins instead of the math module. Doesn't it make sense to collect similar functions with similar signatures in the same place?

[Christian Heimes]

Traditionally the math module is a tiny wrapper around the system's libm. Functions for magic hooks like trunc usually end up in builtins. In this particular case I don't mind where the function is going to live.

Traditions have gone out the window. ceil() and floor() are going to have their signatures changed (Real --> Integral) and are going to have their own magic methods. They cannot be characterized as a thin wrapper around libm.

So the question stands, why is trunc() different? Can anything good come from having trunc() and int() in the same namespace?

Raymond



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