PYPY: Researching a highly flexible and modular language platform and implementing it by leveraging the open source Python language and community

Objective

Main goals
The project will research and implement a flexible, configurable and performant version of Python, a popular Free/Open Source programming language. Much anecdotal, and some empirical, evidence suggests that Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn and is one of the languages in which one can code up a given algorithm the fastest. The project aims to bring this highly productive language to a wider range of platforms and devices by providing simple means to build a highly customized language version.

The approach
The project will achieve its goals principally by leveraging excellent research and the strengths of Open Source developer communities. In particular, it will explore and refine Sprint Driven Development, an agile rapid development method pioneered by Python communities in Europe. Sprints accelerate an already productive open development process by intensifying communication and feedback cycles for programmers and researchers. This process will also involve an existing non-profit organisation of Python firms to bind business communities into research and implementation of a unique runtime environment. Technically, the project will refine and implement innovative approaches to language implementation, based on object spaces and abstract interpretation.

Concrete results.
The new Python will maintain the semantics of the current implementation but will be more portable, more easily customised and extended, more efficient, and it will cover more programming paradigms in a way that respects the simplicity of the underlying language. In addition, the project will document and refine existing open source development models in the Python community. Although targeted principally at Python, most of the research results will be applicable to other high level languages.

Programme(s)

• FP6-IST - Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).

Topic(s)

• IST-2002-2.3.2.3 - Open development platforms for software and services

Funding Scheme

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

DEUTSCHES FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM FUER KUENSTLICHE INTELLIGENZ GMBH

Address

Trippstadter Strasse 122
67663 Kaiserslautern
Germany

Participants (11)

CHANGEMAKER

Sweden

Address

Jarntorget 3
41112 Goeteborg

CREIGHTON LAURA

Sweden

Address

Goetabergsgatan 22
44134 Goeteborg

EMSLIE RICHARD

United Kingdom

Address

Holmhead Logie Coldstone Aboyne
AB34 5PQ Aberdeenshire

HALDIMANN NIKLAUS

Switzerland

Address

Terrassenweg 16
3012 Bern

HEINRICH-HEINE-UNIVERSITAET DUESSELDORF

Germany

Address

Universitaetsstrasse 1
Duesseldorf

IMPARA GMBH

Germany

Address

Listemannstrasse 10
39104 Magdeburg

LOGILAB

France

Address

106 Bis Rue De Rennes
75006 Paris

MERLINUX GMBH

Germany

Address

Gerlandstrasse 8
31139 Hildesheim

OPEN END AB

Sweden

Address

Norra Agatan 10
41664 Goteborg

TISMERYSOFT GMBH

Germany

Address

Steinbergstrasse 42
31134 Hildesheim

VAN RIET PAAP ERIC RANDOLF

Netherlands

Address

Obrechtstraat 69
3572ED Utrecht