On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:25:12 +0100 Claudio Grondi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From the one side I am glad that Python cares about > memory allocation > for me, but on the other side I have trouble to accept, > that I have no direct access to the memory area where > data are stored in order to manipulate them. Having this > possibility would enormously speed up some conversions, > because it were possible to get them down to a > redefinition of the data structure without being forced > to loop over the actual content or use a special > extension library written in C for doing that.
It is precisely this power that makes C such a dangerous language to program in -- it's what makes it so easy to crash your program, any other program running on the same machine, and shoot yourself and your dog each in the foot. Sometimes you really do need that power, and isn't it wonderful that we have C for those times? If you find yourself really needing this kind of capability in Python, then you can write an extension module to create it. As a compromise, BTW, there is also Pyrex, which gives you C-like capabilities from a more Python-like language, and was specifically created for making Python Extensions. I believe, for example, that Soya 3D now uses Pyrex in preference to C for highly-optimized code. For everyday use, though, I recommend keeping the guard rails firmly in place. Imagine what the world would be like if we didn't have plugs and outlets? What if every time you wanted to move a lamp you had shut off the power and rewire your house? Safe abstraction levels are a big time-saver. -- Terry Hancock ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Anansi Spaceworks http://www.AnansiSpaceworks.com -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
