Let me explain an impression I'm getting. It is *just one aspect* of my
opinion, one that doesn't make sense to me. Please tell me where it is
wrong.
In the C API, there's a somewhat controversial refactoring going on,
which involves passing around tstate arguments. I'm not saying [the
first discussion] was perfect, and there are still issues, but, however
flawed the "do-ocracy" process is, it is the best way we found to move
forward. No one who can/wants to do the work has a better solution.
Later, Mark says there is an even better way – or at least, a less
intrusive one! In [the second discussion], he hints at it vaguely (from
that limited info I have, it involves switching to C11 and/or using
compiler-specific extensions -- not an easy change to do). But
frustratingly, Mark doesn't reveal any actual details, and a lot of the
complaints are about churn and merge conflicts.
And now, there's news -- the better solution won't be revealed unless
the PSF pays for it!
That's a very bad situation to be in for having discussions: basically,
either we disregard Mark and go with the not-ideal solution, or
virtually all work on changing the C API and internal structures is blocked.
I sense a similar thing happening here:
https://github.com/ericsnowcurrently/multi-core-python/issues/69 --
there's a vague proposal to do things very differently, but I find it
hard to find anything actionable. I would like to change my plans to
align with Mark's fork, or to better explain some of the non-performance
reasons for recent/planned changes. But I can't, because details are
behind a paywall.
[the first discussion]:
https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-dev@python.org/thread/PQBGECVGVYFTVDLBYURLCXA3T7IPEHHO/#Q4IPXMQIM5YRLZLHADUGSUT4ZLXQ6MYY
[the second discussion]:
https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-dev@python.org/thread/KGBXVVJQZJEEZD7KDS5G3GLBGZ6XNJJX/#WOKAUQYDJDVRA7SJRJDEAHXTRXSVPNMO
On 10/20/20 2:53 PM, Mark Shannon wrote:
Hi everyone,
CPython is slow. We all know that, yet little is done to fix it.
I'd like to change that.
I have a plan to speed up CPython by a factor of five over the next few
years. But it needs funding.
I am aware that there have been several promised speed ups in the past
that have failed. You might wonder why this is different.
Here are three reasons:
1. I already have working code for the first stage.
2. I'm not promising a silver bullet. I recognize that this is a
substantial amount of work and needs funding.
3. I have extensive experience in VM implementation, not to mention a
PhD in the subject.
My ideas for possible funding, as well as the actual plan of
development, can be found here:
https://github.com/markshannon/faster-cpython
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Cheers,
Mark.
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