[Python-Dev] Why is Bytecode the way it is? (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Thu Jul 8 18:01:31 CEST 2004

I'm really not even proposing a change to Python as much as trying to understand why it is the way it is. I can see how a stack is helpful for evaluating deeply nested expressions (although temporary variables seems another good valid approach). I just don't see the payoff for shuffling variables from locals onto the stack and back into the locals table.

To minimize the instruction set and simplify the compiler. You'll need the most general operation (return from stack) anyway.

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

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