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Multiple dispatch and meta programming are both wonderful, irrespective of speed benefits. For example, compare linear algebra syntax in Julia with those in R

by celrod 8y ago

Multiple dispatch and meta programming are both wonderful, irrespective of speed benefits. For example, compare linear algebra syntax in Julia with those in R and Python. Plus, the flexibility of multiple dispatch applying equally well to any of your own types really makes it feel like you can do anything in Julia. Metaprogramming, writing code that writes code, can take a while to get used to. But is extremely powerful. A final point I will make is comparability of Julia code. If you want to for a Bayesian model or solve a differential equation in Julia, you can mix your own types and code and any generically written library code at will, and it will often just work. In R, you're not likely to find that; your Stan code can't call R functions you've written or those from your favorite libraries.

sametmax 8y ago
Multiple dispach and meta programming are available in python as well. Although duck typing is usually a better solution and it's not really a killer feature to data analysts anyway. Compared to python, i'd say julia has the reputation for being generally faster for things you can't use numpy with, and you can more easily scale multiple cpu or machines.
- srean 8y ago
  By metaprogramming in Python, do you mean using decorators ? If so that's a far cry from metaprogramming
  - sametmax 8y ago
    Import hooks with access to the ast, full object introspection and metaclass are not too shaby. They are not that used though, too much magic and implicit processing are not promoted in the community.
    - srean 8y ago
      Not to shabby indeed ! Now have to check whats up with Hy.
- fanf2 8y ago
  Multiple dispatch has to be coded by hand in Python, it isn’t a feature of the language.
  - sametmax 8y ago
    Sorry you are right. We only have single dispatch built in. I never had the use case for more so I confused them.
  - jahewson 8y ago
    Python 3.7 added the ability to use type annotations with the @functools.singledispatch decorator which lets you write functions in a multi-dispatch manner.
    - malmaud 8y ago
      As the name suggests, that lets you write functions in a single-dispatch manner. That is different from multiple-dispatch.

by celrod 8y ago

sametmax 8y ago

Multiple dispach and meta programming are available in python as well. Although duck typing is usually a better solution and it's not really a killer feature to data analysts anyway. Compared to python, i'd say julia has the reputation for being generally faster for things you can't use numpy with, and you can more easily scale multiple cpu or machines.

srean 8y ago
By metaprogramming in Python, do you mean using decorators ? If so that's a far cry from metaprogramming
- sametmax 8y ago
  Import hooks with access to the ast, full object introspection and metaclass are not too shaby. They are not that used though, too much magic and implicit processing are not promoted in the community.
  - srean 8y ago
    Not to shabby indeed ! Now have to check whats up with Hy.
fanf2 8y ago
Multiple dispatch has to be coded by hand in Python, it isn’t a feature of the language.
- sametmax 8y ago
  Sorry you are right. We only have single dispatch built in. I never had the use case for more so I confused them.
- jahewson 8y ago
  Python 3.7 added the ability to use type annotations with the @functools.singledispatch decorator which lets you write functions in a multi-dispatch manner.
  - malmaud 8y ago
    As the name suggests, that lets you write functions in a single-dispatch manner. That is different from multiple-dispatch.