[Python-Dev] Using Cython for standard library? (original) (raw)

Stefan Behnel stefan_ml at behnel.de
Tue Nov 4 20:17:41 CET 2008

skip at pobox.com wrote:

>>> - Option 2: only distribute generated source files >>> -- developers still need to have Cython installed >>> -- you have to trust Cython; who will really review the generated code? >> >> Who reviews the machine code from gcc?

Gerhard> That's comparing apples and eggs :-P But it may be that I'm a Gerhard> little paranoid here. Agreed. When Cython is as widely used as gcc and has as comprehensive a set of test cases (who knows? it may well already be comprehensive enough)

The test suite is pretty huge already, works on Py2.3 through Py3.0 (without regenerating the C source code, BTW), and it tests C compilation as well as C++ compilation of the generated source code.

and supports all the compilers which Python supports

I didn't hear any complains so far. Portable C code is definitely a project goal.

then we can probably skip the output code review step.

I think the main advantage for stdlib modules is actually the maintenance cost. Having a single, easy-to-read code base for extension modules that compiles without modification in Py2.6/7 and Py3.0/3.1 (and 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5), makes life a lot easier for both maintainers and backporters.

Stefan

More information about the Python-Dev mailing list