[Python-Dev] Optionally using GMP to implement long if available (original) (raw)

M.-A. Lemburg mal at egenix.com
Tue Nov 4 19:58:21 CET 2008

On 2008-11-04 18:38, Victor Stinner wrote:

Le Monday 03 November 2008 18:56:37 Paul Miller, vous avez écrit :

Rather than that, what about patching Python's long implementation to use GMP if it's available, and the default implementation if not? Yes, I like this suggestion of two flavors. Python with GMP and Python without GMP (builtin integer library). It's "easy" to change the long type implementation since only few modules use PyLong internals: - mashal: import/export (.pyc) => core function might be moved to longobject.c - math: use some special features of the PyLong type => macro can be written for that or simplify a #ifdef.

Ahem, what about the gazillion extension modules out there ?

You cannot simply change the long implementation and expect everything to just work. Besides, like Tim already said: adding lots and lots of #ifdefs is just going to make it harder to maintain the implementation without gaining anything much.

I don't really see much of a need for this anyway. If people want to use GMP they can download gmpy or PyGMP or our experimental mxNumber extension:

http://www.egenix.com/products/python/mxExperimental/mxNumber/

-- Marc-Andre Lemburg eGenix.com

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