LWN: Comments on "Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy"

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

pizza — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:48:29 +0000

> In C++, like in python, if you pick a library written by a noob that changes the API at every release, you do get the problem.

In C++, you'll (almost always) know this at compile time. In Python, you won't know that a sub-sub-sub dependency changed an API until a backtrace pukes all over your shoes at _some point_ during program execution.

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

gioele — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:58:41 +0000

> There is no programming language that by its very structure makes sure that API compatibility is kept.

Elm has "Enforced Semantic Versioning" (from <https://elm-lang.org/>)

> Elm detects all API changes automatically thanks to its type system. We use that information to guarantee that every single Elm package follows semantic versioning precisely. No surprises in PATCH releases.

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

LtWorf — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:47:45 +0000

Well most libraries in python are stable.

In C++, like in python, if you pick a library written by a noob that changes the API at every release, you do get the problem.

There is no programming language that by its very structure makes sure that API compatibility is kept.

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

Sesse — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 23:18:07 +0000

I've frequently done exactly this, without much ado. There's been stuff like a few missing #includes, but no major semantics changes (including in libraries).

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

smurf — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:40:52 +0000

Stop dissing Python. Others are not much better, just try recompiling any nontrivial C++ program from a decade ago.

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

lamikr — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:55:05 +0000

Works like everything else in Python, no any kind of quarentee for stable API and lot of broken code/rewritting for upcoming years.

Benjamin: Towards a new SymPy

nickodell — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 23:10:50 +0000

A very interesting dive into SymPy internals. I've used SymPy before, but never appreciated how it works under the hood. It's a shame he doesn't have an RSS feed for people who want to follow the blog.