On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 10:59 AM, Robert Bradshaw <[email protected]> wrote: > On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 2:58 AM, Dag Sverre Seljebotn > <[email protected]> wrote: >> On 11/22/2010 11:49 AM, Stefan Behnel wrote: >>> Connell, Paul, 22.11.2010 10:03: >>> >>>> Robert Bradshaw, 19 November 2010 23:03 >>>> >>>>> https://github.com/cython >>>>> >>>> This might be nitpicking, but "a Python to C compiler" is a questionable >>>> tagline for what Cython is/does... That's a description of something >>>> like shedskin isn't it? >>>> >>> Right, Cython is a lot more than that. I find the "C-extensions for Python" >>> from our homepage a lot broader, the idea being that basically everything >>> you could do with a C extension to CPython, you can do better with Cython. >>> >> >> Problem is that some users may not know what "C-extensions for Python" >> is about. "Python to C compiler" communicates to a much broader range of >> people, who may feel that Python is too slow but don't quite know how to >> go about it. >> >> Considering the purpose of that subject line, I feel the latter is >> better. People who know what a C-extension means will often already have >> heard about Cython and not bother to read the line. > > This is exactly whey I wrote the current tagline--I know people who've > written (good) Cython code that wouldn't even know what you were > talking about if you said "C-extension." > >> (Also, as is, "C-extensions for Python" sounds like we're a repository >> of extensions, so at least a little rewording is needed.) >> >> I don't feel "Python to C compiler" is wrong. We just plug into and use >> the API provided by CPython. shedskin also uses a library in a sense, >> although one reimplemented (from scratch?), and that may run a little >> faster. Although I can see the argument that it may make certain people >> think that we can magically turn *any* Python code into lightning fast C >> code... > > True. If someone were to ask me, in one word, what Cython was, I would > call it a compiler. I'm open to suggestions, but I don't think > "C-extension" captures the idea (and attention) well for the intended > audience. Also, though it's a bit of an abuse of the term, I think of > "C-extension module" as a handcoded alternative to "Cython extension > module" or "SWIG extension module" or (eventual) "frap extension > module."
I use Cython a lot, pretty much everyday for my work and research. I view Cython as a "a Python to C compiler". Just like shedskin. I think that the two projects are competing, that's for sure. Cython is more robust, and more general, maybe in some cases a bit slower without helping it by hand. But that's fine, just the fact, that they are competing doesn't mean they can't use the same project description. Ondrej _______________________________________________ Cython-dev mailing list [email protected] http://codespeak.net/mailman/listinfo/cython-dev
