Hacker News Reader

Comment by mbell | Hacker News Reader

I don't know about that.

Jython vs CPython vs PyPy vs Stackless Python vs IronPython

HotSpot vs OpenJDK vs Dalvik vs GNU Classpath (libraries only) vs Jazelle VM, etc

There is some argument as to which feedback into the language and which are "pure" implementations but I think the point still holds, many languages are pulled in many directions by either their runtime or their compiler.

View on HN

But isn't Jython years behind the CPython version, PyPy still experimental and on Python 2.x, and IronPython mostly a novelty? Stackless seems in better shape, though, and couldn't say anything in respect to usage.

The argument for Java is clearer and it's a well known case of the interaction of multiple implementors, and thus it has an standardization process.

I would say that CPython, PyPy and Stackless are in pretty strong competition in different areas. PyPy only supporting 2.x seems to be a relatively unimportant metric given the slow adoption of 3.x. As for it being experimental, perhaps technically but I do believe its used in production in many places. From what I know Stackless gets a large portion of its support from CCP games due to its use in Eve Online. I'm sure there are others but its use case is relatively unique.

In the grand scheme of things, the differences between CPython and PyPy are minor. Stackless is a special case. Relatively Python has very little language fragmentation. It has more of what I'd call "implementation fragmentation," but not too much of that either.

FWIW, PyPy is close to supporting 3.x (for x ~ 2 IIRC): http://morepypy.blogspot.com/2012/04/py3k-status-update-3.ht...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com