Let's Talk about PyPy - Speaker Deck

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Let's Talk About David Beazley @dabeaz

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PyPy Project • Perhaps you've heard about PyPy • Python implemented in Python • It is apparently quite a bit faster • How is that possible? Magic???

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It's Not Slow Draw the Mandelbrot set Credit: Jeff Preshing CPython 2.7: 502s _ = ( 255, lambda V ,B,c :c and Y(V*V+B,B, c -1)if(abs(V)<6)else ( 2+c-4*abs(V)**-0.4)/i ) ;v, x=1500,1000;C=range(v*x );import struct;P=struct.pack;M,\ j ='

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It's Not Slow Draw the Mandelbrot set (non-obfuscated) Python 2.7.2 : 14.5s Python 2.7.2+ctypes : 0.95s PyPy-1.8 : 0.42s Yow! That's 34x faster!

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I LIKE IT! "Laziness is the ﬁrst great virtue of a programmer" -- Larry Wall

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CPython PyPy One is clearly faster than the other...

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CPython PyPy Just in time compilation Translation to C Optimization One is clearly faster than the other...

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CPython PyPy Just in time compilation Translation to C Optimization ... but performance is not what this talk is about. One is clearly faster than the other...

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CPython PyPy • Which one can you adjust with a pocketknife?

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CPython PyPy • Which one can you adjust with a pocketknife? ... in the dark

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CPython PyPy • Which one can you adjust with a pocketknife? ... in the dark ... under a pressing deadline

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CPython PyPy • Which one can you adjust with a pocketknife? ... in the dark ... under a pressing deadline I speak from some experience...

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Thinking about Tinkering (with PyPy)

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Tinkering Matters! CPython

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Tinkering Matters! CPython Patches

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Tinkering Matters! CPython Patches PEPs

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Tinkering Matters! CPython Patches PEPs Extensions python-ideas

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"Oh, Interesting..."

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Exploring New Ideas ported to An "afternoon hack," with a big impact parallel Python

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Exploring New Ideas ported to An "afternoon hack," with a big impact parallel Python ... we didn't choose Python for performance.

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Tinkering Creates Cool Stuff

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CPython PyPy An honest question • Is PyPy something that YOU can tinker with? • As in YOU... sitting in this room. • Or is it for "evil genuises only?"

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Armin Maciej Alex You?

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A Confession • PyPy scares me • It's fast. I get that. • A lot of moving parts • A lot of advanced computer science inside

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Tinker Away! I Worry About Complexity ... Abandon all hope

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CPython PyPy An honest question • Is PyPy something that YOU can tinker with? Honest answer: I don't know

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• See if I could teach myself to tinker with PyPy • From scratch (I'm not a PyPy developer) • Use nothing but the source, online docs, etc. An Experiment:

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Constraints A part-time project

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Tinkering with PyPy != Using PyPy • If you want to use it, just run it • It's Python. • Not so interesting (not as much as tinkering) bash % pypy gofaster.py

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Tinkering with PyPy != Creating PyPy • submit a useful bug report (or patch) • Make extensions • Study parts of the implementation (GIL, etc.) • Post messages on pypy-ideas@pypy.org

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Where To Start? • Tinkerers use source • You build it yourself! • You read instructions http://pypy.org Go Download it. Now!

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Running py.py • PyPy is written in "Python"... you can run it bash % python pypy-1.8/pypy/bin/py.py [platform:execute] gcc-4.0 -c -arch x86_64 -O frame-pointer - \ ... PyPy 1.8.0 in StdObjSpace on top of Python 2. (startuptime: 23.23 secs) >>>> • Performance is terrible! • You wouldn't do it except for debugging

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Translating PyPy • To get the "real" version, you translate it • Huh? No makeﬁle? No setup.py? • Already, I'm getting nervous. bash % cd pypy/translator/goal bash % python translate.py -Ojit

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Demo

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Building PyPy Some Facts: • Movie is @ 64x speed • Takes a few hours Contrast: Conﬁgure and build CPython-3.2.2 • ./configure; make -j8 • Takes about 90 seconds Immediate Problem: • Finding enough RAM • It takes >4GB 4 cores, 8 GB RAM EC2, m2.xlarge (17GB) What's Actually Happening • Translation of PyPy to C • Creates ~800 C ﬁles • ~10.4 million lines! • 350 Mbytes It might kill the C compiler (or your machine) • Example: gcc-4.2 This is Amazing! • Dare I say "diabolical" • If not intimidating One of the most daunting parts of PyPy • Must redo the process if you make any tweak • An obvious barrier to casual tinkering

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RPython • PyPy is actually implemented in "RPython" • RPython is not an "interpreter", but a restricted subset of the Python language Python rpython • It can run as valid Python code, but that's about the only similarity

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RPython • Formal speciﬁcation (in their own words): "RPython is everything that our translation toolchain can accept"

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RPython • Formal speciﬁcation (in their own words): "RPython is everything that our translation toolchain can accept" • An analogy "Python is everything that runs without generating a traceback."

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Documentation

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High-level Docs

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Detailed Tech Reports

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Detailed Tech Reports To be fair, it was a funded academic project in PL. (They had to write like this)

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Source Code • 454 directories • 5534 ﬁles (4513 .py source ﬁles) • ~1.25 million non-blank source lines (.py) By The Numbers: It's not so easy to just jump in and make sense of it

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Reading Blogs • Recommend start: Andrew Brown • Laurence Tratt "Fast Enough VMs in Fast Enough Time" "Tutorial: Writing an Interpreter with PyPy" http://bit.ly/fmV2wx http://bit.ly/y8GLqf

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Just Do It (Live RPython Coding Demo)

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RPython in a Nutshell • RPython is a completely different language • Python syntax, yes. • Must be compiled (like C, C++, etc.) • Static typing via type inference • Limited set of libraries • If you love Python, you will hate RPython

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0 int

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0 int int

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0 int int int

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0 int int int int

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Type Inference Illustrated def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) def main(argv): print fib(int(argv[1])) return 0 int int int int int Key Point: Think static typing (like C)

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# file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement Now think about the whole program Type inference + restrictions

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# file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement Entry point Exploration Begins Whole program type annotation!

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# file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement All reachable control- ﬂow paths are followed Entry point Whole program type annotation!

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# file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement Entry point Imagine this diagram, but with tens of thousands of functions Whole program type annotation!

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# file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement Key Insight: Entry point All of the reachable code is RPython

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RPython def name1(args): statement statement statement # file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement # file2.py def name1(args): statement statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement PyPy Source def name1(args): statement statement # file3.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement class B(object): def method1(self,args): statement statement statement def method2(self,args): statement statement def name1(args): statement statement def name2(args): statement statement def name4(args): statement statement Translation C Compile pypy-c Entry point

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Understanding Translation • The translation process will blow your mind • Full understanding by mortals is probably futile • Snakes + Souls of Ph.D. students inside? • Let's look at a small taste...

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A Function def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) Obvious question: How does it translate to C?

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Traditional Compiler def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) Lexer Parser IR C You might think it's like a traditional compiler.

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Traditional Compiler def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) Lexer Parser IR C You might think it's like a traditional compiler. (and you would be wrong)

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Traditional Compiler IR def fib(n): if n < 2: return n else: return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2) Lexer Parser C Insight: Python already parsed the code! ... so don't do it again. ?????

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RPython Translation IR C Translation occurs directly from Python code objects >>> fib.__code__.co_code '|\x00\x00d\x01\x00k\x00\x00r\x10\x00 d\x02\x00St\x00\x00|\x00\x00d\x02\x00 \x18\x83\x01\x00t\x00\x00|\x00\x00d \x01\x00\x18\x83\x01\x00\x17Sd\x00\x00S'

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Bytecode Interpretation CPython • Python has a bytecode interpreter • Core of the eval loop (written in C). bytecode interpreter runtime

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Bytecode Interpretation CPython • It executes the bytecode bytecode interpreter runtime >>> fib.__code__.co_code '|\x00\x00d\x01\x00k\x00\x00r\x1 d\x02\x00St\x00\x00|\x00\x00d\x \x18\x83\x01\x00t\x00\x00|\x00\ \x01\x00\x18\x83\x01\x00\x17Sd\

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Bytecode Interpretation PyPy • PyPy has a bytecode interpreter too • Written in pure Python (that's the whole idea) bytecode interpreter runtime >>> fib.__code__.co_code '|\x00\x00d\x01\x00k\x00\x00r\x1 d\x02\x00St\x00\x00|\x00\x00d\x \x18\x83\x01\x00t\x00\x00|\x00\ \x01\x00\x18\x83\x01\x00\x17Sd\

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Bytecode Interpretation PyPy runtime bytecode interpreter • Bytecode interpreter is modular • Also used by the translate.py program translate.py bytecode interpreter abstract runtime

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Just to be clear... PyPy translates itself using its own bytecode interpreter

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Abstract Interpretation translate.py bytecode interpreter abstract runtime 2 0 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 3 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 6 COMPARE_OP 0 (<) 9 POP_JUMP_IF_FALSE 16 3 12 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 15 RETURN_VALUE 5 >> 16 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 19 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 22 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 25 BINARY_SUBTRACT 26 CALL_FUNCTION 1 29 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 32 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 35 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 38 BINARY_SUBTRACT 39 CALL_FUNCTION 1 42 BINARY_ADD 43 RETURN_VALUE 44 LOAD_CONST 0 (None) 47 RETURN_VALUE Translator runs the code "in the abstract"

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Abstract Interpretation Translator runs the code "in the abstract" 2 0 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 3 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 6 COMPARE_OP 0 (<) 9 POP_JUMP_IF_FALSE 16 3 12 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 15 RETURN_VALUE 5 >> 16 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 19 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 22 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 25 BINARY_SUBTRACT 26 CALL_FUNCTION 1 29 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 32 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 35 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 38 BINARY_SUBTRACT 39 CALL_FUNCTION 1 42 BINARY_ADD 43 RETURN_VALUE 44 LOAD_CONST 0 (None) 47 RETURN_VALUE 2 0 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 3 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 6 COMPARE_OP 0 (<) 9 POP_JUMP_IF_FALSE 16 3 12 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 15 RETURN_VALUE 5 >> 16 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 19 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 22 LOAD_CONST 2 (1) 25 BINARY_SUBTRACT 26 CALL_FUNCTION 1 29 LOAD_GLOBAL 0 (fib) 32 LOAD_FAST 0 (n) 35 LOAD_CONST 1 (2) 38 BINARY_SUBTRACT 39 CALL_FUNCTION 1 42 BINARY_ADD 43 RETURN_VALUE 44 LOAD_CONST 0 (None) 47 RETURN_VALUE Translator runs the code "in the abstract" translate.py bytecode interpreter abstract runtime

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Abstract Interpretation A Control ﬂow graph is constructed translate.py bytecode interpreter abstract runtime

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Abstract Interpretation C Code The full details are "hairy"

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"You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike." (and a huge green ﬁerce snake bars the way)

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Understanding the Source • Two different languages co-exist (same syntax) # file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement Full Python???? RPython???? Which is it?

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Understanding the Source def cast_object_to_ptr(PTR, object): """NOT_RPYTHON: hack. The object may Limited to casting a given object to """ if isinstance(PTR, lltype.Ptr): TO = PTR.TO else: TO = PTR ... • PyPy uses doc strings to help you sort it out • It is enforced by the translator (an assertion)

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Understanding the Source • Deeper question: Why would you have mixed code? # file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement RPython Python • Head throbbing...

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Execution Contexts # file1.py def name2(args): statement statement def name3(args): statement statement statement statement def name1(args): statement statement statement Translation (Python) Executable (C) • At translation, the code separates Metaprogramming Implementation • decorators • metaclasses • exec()

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Example def decorator(func): statements ... def wrapper(*args,**kwargs): statements ... return func(*args,**kwargs) return wrapper @decorator def func(args): statements ...

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Example def decorator(func): statements ... def wrapper(*args,**kwargs): statements ... return func(*args,**kwargs) return wrapper @decorator def func(args): statements ... Python RPython Python RPython

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Rules of Thumb • Code that executes at import time can make use of all Python features • Code reachable through the entry point (target) is RPython • Keeping it straight is hard (for me anyways)

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But Wait, There's More!

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Foreign Code • PyPy is written in "Python", but can access external C code and libraries • os, math, time, threads, etc. • There is a highly developed FFI mechanism • Plus a conﬁguration system (think autoconf)

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Example (Accessing Foreign Functions)

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A Quandary • How do I end this talk? • I've only talked about RPython • When do we get to the PyPy?

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A Realization I still don't know know how PyPy works! Score: PyPy: 1 Dave: 0

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A Deeper Realization I don't even know how CPython works!

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WAT!?! WAT!?!

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A Clariﬁcation I do know how to use the tools that make CPython

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A Clariﬁcation I do know how to use the tools that make CPython • ANSI C • Makeﬁles • Algorithms • Data Structures

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The Challenge PyPy has a different set of tools • RPython • translate.py • Metaprogramming • Foreign Functions

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So how to end this talk?

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Wait! I used to be an evil professor!

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Figuring out how PyPy works is left as an exercise! (You'll learn a lot)

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Postscript

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Postscript Let's talk about Ruby! threads.each { |aThread| aThread.join }

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Breaking GILs • As you know, I like breaking GILs • You know, global interpreter locks • As in threads and stuff... • I love it!

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A Benchmark • Message-passing with a CPU-bound thread C : 1.11s Python 2.7 : 1.60s Ruby 1.9 : 5839.4s • Don't concern yourself with the details • Ruby 3600x slower than Python? • What's that all about? Let's go tinker!

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Tinkering with Ruby • It was pretty straightforward • Finding the GIL didn't take long • An afternoon of ﬁddling around (Search for my talk at RuPy 2011) • Caused by a more extreme case of the thread priority inversion that's in Python 3.3

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Just to be clear... I couldn't write a real Ruby program to save my life right now.

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A PyPy Benchmark • A similar message-passing benchmark Python 2.7 : 15.6s PyPy-1.6 : 6689.2s (428x slower) • Huh? What's that all about? • No idea! Or even how to look. • That is the whole reason for this talk

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Parting Words • Can you tinker with PyPy? • Honest answer: I still don't know • Should you try to go tinker with it anyways? • YES! • You will ﬁnd interesting things inside

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"My God, it's full of stars!"

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"My God, it's full of stars!" (or VMs?)

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Thanks! • Hope you learned at least one new thing • Special thanks: • Alex Gaynor • Maciej Fijalkowski • Chipy • Twitter: @dabeaz