python preallocate some integers?

[Dave Reed]

I seem to recall somewhere, possibly in the Python Essential Reference
(but unfortunately, books don't have a "find" function), that Python
preallocates and never destroys the first 100 integers. A minute of
google searching didn't help me so I tried some simple tests. Based on
these, it appears that only one copy of the integers -5 through 99 is
created.

Can someone please verify this for me or tell me what is done with
regard to this?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Alex Martelli]

I seem to recall somewhere, possibly in the Python Essential Reference
(but unfortunately, books don't have a "find" function), that Python
preallocates and never destroys the first 100 integers. A minute of
google searching didn't help me so I tried some simple tests. Based on
these, it appears that only one copy of the integers -5 through 99 is
created.

Can someone please verify this for me or tell me what is done with
regard to this?

In the current implementation, that is indeed the case. Of course,
since it's strictly an optimization issue, that's a detail which could
change even between one subrelease and the next, so make sure your
application doesn't depend on it.


Alex