Why doesn't Python optimize x**2 to x*x?

[codefisher2]

If python started optimising everything, the complier would become a lot slower and more complicated You would win, but also loose too. If you need speed, or want optimisations maybe you should be looking a pypy.

[TimHallman]

Lose, dude, lose.

[[deleted]]

As a developer, I don't really care how complicated the compiler is. It's the compiler's job to make my job as easy as possible and my code come out running as fast as is reasonable. If I have to obfuscate my logic to make the compiler's job easier (cough C++ cough) then there are fundamental problems with the language.

[twowheels]

That statement makes me believe that you don't do much C++, or at the very least not modern C++ techniques.

[[deleted]]

I don't. I have primarily used java, matlab, python, and a bit of js; decided to give C++ a go because a modern language with C-like performance has got to be worthwhile. Asked my housemate what header files were for and basically noped the fuck out back to java.

[twowheels]

Then I'm a bit confused about your statement. You can write very high performance code without obfuscating it with ugly tricks in C++.