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Diffstat (limited to 'HACKING')
-rw-r--r-- | HACKING | 48 |
1 files changed, 48 insertions, 0 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ + +### Problems With Python/Julia Syntax Mapping with dot ('.') Operator + +*aka, why the annoying underscore syntax is needed* + +Using PyCall, we can map python modules to Julia modules with the same syntax: + + python> import os + python> os.uname() + python> os.O_RDONLY + + julia> using PyCall + julia> os = pywrap(pyimport("os")) + julia> os.uname() + julia> os.O_RDONLY + +And using a recursive version of pywrap (`pyrecwrap`), we can get nested +modules to map also: + + python> import os + python> os.path.genericpath.os.uname() + + julia> os = pyrecwrap(pyimport("os")) + julia> os.path.genericpath.os.uname() + +We can also map python classes to Julia modules: + + python> import pyx.style.linewidth as psl + python> psl.THICK + + julia> ps = pywrap(pyimport("pyx.style")) + julia> psl = pywrap(ps.linewidth) + julia> psl.THICK + +However, in Python a class/object can both have members and be called as an +initializer: + + python> psl.THIN + python> psl(0.1) + +But in Julia a Module can't act as a function. + +Thus, a one-to-one syntax mapping just isn't going to work until (unless?) the +dot ('.') operator can be overridden (as of Julia 0.4 it may not). + +The work around used in this project (PyX.jl) is to use underscores in +object/function names and dots in object/module names. Eg, +`style.linewidth(0.2)` vs. `style_linewidth.THICK`. |