You are technically correct. A Sufficiently Smart Compiler(TM) could theoretically optimize python code. However certain language features can be inherently d

You are technically correct. A Sufficiently Smart Compiler(TM) could theoretically optimize python code. However certain language features can be inherently difficult to optimize. Most of it's over my head, but headius has written some great articles as part of his experience of implementing ruby on the jvm. http://blog.headius.com/2012/09/avoiding-hash-lookups-in-ruby.html http://blog.headius.com/2012/09/avoiding-hash-lookups-in-rub...