Andre Meyer wrote: > Hi all > > I have the following question: I need a representation of a physically > inspired environment. The environment contains a large number of objects > with varying attributes. There may be classes of objects, but there is > not necessarily a strictly defined hierarchy among them. Object access > should be fast, because there a many objects that change often ( e.g., > moving objects). > > My approach is to use a dictionary for the environment model and store > each object as a slot, which contains either a dictionary or an object. > Now, which is better? What is the performance of Python to look up > attributes as either slots of a dictionary or attributes of an object? > What feels more logical? What is more pythonic and performs better? > Which is constructed and modified easier and quicker? Are there effects > that I am not yet aware of? > I'd suggest using objects: quite apart from the fact that name lookup in a namespace is pretty much equivalent to a dictionary lookup (namespaces use an internal optimised dictionary-style object) remember that objects can have methods, and that the names are given as attributes rather than as strings.
regards Steve -- Steve Holden +44 150 684 7255 +1 800 494 3119 Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com Skype: holdenweb http://holdenweb.blogspot.com Recent Ramblings http://del.icio.us/steve.holden -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
