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I'm pretty sure that the words "tail recursion" or "tail call" should appear somewhere in this article - see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_call https:

I'm pretty sure that the words "tail recursion" or "tail call" should appear somewhere in this article - see e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_call https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_call which also explains in a remarkably simple way how tail recursion relates to iterative constructs (as are found, e.g. in Python). Why do people write 'introductory' articles that don't even mention common terminology?

mwkaufma 8y ago
Because the cost() function OP posted isn't doing tail calls and can't be converted into tail call form.
- mcguire 8y ago
  Not with that kind of attitude. :-) Converting to continuation passing does result in tail calls.
  - mwkaufma 8y ago
    Is there an equivalent of call/cc in Python?
    - mcguire 8y ago
      No, you have to do it manually. I suppose you could write a code-transformer.
ericlippert 8y ago
I discuss tail calls in part two. I am often surprised by the number of people who will criticize part one of an article for omitting certain details before reading the second part. Was "part one" unclear in some way?