[Python-Dev] CPython optimization: storing reference counters outside of objects (original) (raw)

Stefan Behnel stefan_ml at behnel.de
Tue May 24 14:05:26 CEST 2011

Maciej Fijalkowski, 24.05.2011 13:31:

CPython was not designed for CPU cache usage as far as I'm aware.

That's a pretty bold statement to make on this list. Even if it wasn't originally "designed" for (efficient?) CPU cache usage, it's certainly been around for long enough to have received numerous performance tweaks in that regard.

I doubt that efficient CPU cache usage was a major design goal of PyPy right from the start. IMHO, the project has changed its objectives way too many times to claim something like that, especially at the low level where the CPU cache becomes relevant. I remember that not so long ago, PyPy was hugely memory hungry compared to CPython. Although, one could certainly call that "designed for CPU cache usage"... ;)

Stefan

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