PyPy

PyPy

PyPy is an alternative Python interpreter written in Python. It features a just-in-time compiler and supports many Python libraries and frameworks. PyPy focuses on speed, efficiency and compatibility with CPython.
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python interpreter jit fast compatible

PyPy: Alternative Python Interpreters

PyPy is an alternative Python interpreter written in Python. It features a just-in-time compiler and supports many Python libraries and frameworks. PyPy focuses on speed, efficiency and compatibility with CPython.

What is PyPy?

PyPy is an alternative implementation of the Python programming language. Unlike the standard CPython interpreter, PyPy uses just-in-time compilation to improve performance. Some key things about PyPy:

  • Implemented in Python - The PyPy interpreter itself is written in Python along with some other languages like C. This makes it easier to experiment with changes to the interpreter.
  • Focuses on speed - Thanks to the JIT compiler, PyPy can run pure Python code significantly faster than CPython in many cases.
  • Compatible with CPython - PyPy aims to be highly compatible with code written for CPython. Most Python libraries and frameworks work on PyPy.
  • Supports Python 2.7 and 3.6+ - PyPy supports the latest Python 3.x versions as well as Python 2.7.
  • Used in production - As of 2022, a number of companies use PyPy in production to speed up performance-critical applications.

Overall, PyPy serves as a drop-in replacement for CPython that can substantially speed up Python code. It allows you to write standard Python code while getting better performance. Many Python developers use it for situations where performance matters more than absolute compatibility with some CPython behaviors.

PyPy Features

Features

  1. Just-in-time compiler for faster execution
  2. Support for Python 2.7 and 3.6
  3. Compatibility with most Python libraries and frameworks
  4. Stackless Python support
  5. Built-in profiler for performance analysis

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Faster execution than CPython in many cases

Lower memory usage than CPython

Mature and stable implementation

Easy migration from CPython codebases

Cons

Not all extension modules compatible out of the box

Startup time can be longer than CPython

Smaller community than CPython


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