[Python-Dev] Proper tail recursion (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Fri Jul 16 04:21:00 CEST 2004

> > How about: Tail recursion "enables" recursion-oriented (functional) > > style? :) > > Still -1. I was understating my case: I find the "recursion is the > basis of everything" attitude harmful.

I think it's still best to "enable" such a style in some cases -- Python's syntax is designed to allow formulation of a problem in the most natural way. Sometimes it's more natural to formulate a problem as a recursive function than a procedural one, but the current implementation restricts this. I agree that "recursion is the basis of everything" is harmful, but I think the same belief can apply to "procedularism is the basis of everything" (why do we have classes, list comprehensions, etc.?). Some things are better formulated in a procedural style, while others are better formulated in a recursive style.

And how should we decide whether something is better done without recursion? I currently have an easy answer: if it exceeds the stack limit, you're probably spending too much time on function calls...

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

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