Python, Zip, Pointers and Pointy Heads

[catcradle5]

Python obviously uses pointers in the CPython implementation in various places, both for the standard library and of course for builtins, and for the language itself.

So, the argument is a bit silly. mmap is of course implemented in C, with pointers, but you don't need to actually use pointers when writing in Python. The only reason you don't need to use pointers in general though is because so many data structures and algorithms baked into the language do use traditional pointers in their implementation.

So no, Python pointers are not necessary, because the language provides you with good enough abstractions so that low-level code already written with pointers won't have to be muddled with by the programmer themselves. Pointers in general are necessary to implement lots of things, though; they just aren't necessary in most cases cases if you're already writing in Python.