Re: Questions on 64 bit versions of Python

[M.-A. Lemburg]

On 2008-07-25 08:13, py****@bdurham.com wrote:

Background: I'm going to be processing some raw transaction logs that
are 30G in size. As part of this processing I may need to create some
very large dictionary structures. I will be running my scripts on a
version of Windows 2003 Server Enterprise Edition that supports 16G of
RAM. Yes, I could use a database in place of dictionaries, but I'm
looking for maximum performance.

The following page lists two 64 bit versions of Python for Windows:
http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.5.2/

For Win64-Itanium users: python-2.5.2.ia64.msi
For Win64-AMD64 users: python-2.5.2.amd64.msi

1. It looks like the 64 bit versions of Python for Windows are CPU
vendor specific, eg. it doesn't look like there's a single, universal
executable for Windows 64 bit platforms. Is this true?

Yes.

But then Intel Itanium is being phased out anyway and the AMD64
build works on both Intel and AMD processors.

2. Are there limitations to the using the 64 bit versions of Python? I
seem to remember reading that many 3rd party modules (especially Windows
OS specific modules) may not be compatible with the 64 bit versions of
Python for Windows.

True.

The extensions usually need to be recompiled and possibly
also updated to support 64-bit architectures.

The win32 tools are available on 64-bit Windows - if that's what
you mean with "Windows OS specific modules".

3. If I wanted to run a 64 bit version of Python under Linux, would I
need to recompile from source on 64 bit version of Linux or do 64 bit
versions of Linux automatically ship with 64 bit versions of Python?
(Any recommendations on a flavor of 64 bit of Linux for the Intel
architecture would be appreciated)

Yes, 64-bit Linux versions ship with 64-bit builds of Python. Any
recent Linux distro should work just fine.

4. Is there a stable version of IronPython compiled under a 64 bit
version of .NET? Anyone have experience with such a beast?

Can't comment on that one.

--
Marc-Andre Lemburg
eGenix.com

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[Paul Boddie]

On 25 Jul, 12:35, "M.-A. Lemburg" <[e-mail]:

>
But then Intel Itanium is being phased out anyway

Citation needed! ;-)

Paul