python / python/cpython

Improve interface between compiler and symtable

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#122,985 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

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interpreter-core type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

In this issue I want to try and improve the interface between the compiler and the symtable.

Problems I see are:

  • the compiler modifies the symtable
  • the compiler performs calculations that the symtable could do (such as in push_inlined_comprehension_state)
  • the symtable is actually not a correct representation of some scopes, like those of inlined comprehensions (the comprehension scope it removed from the symtable tree, but is still access from the compiler via the symtable dict). Exception handlers are another example of scope changes that the compiler does, which are not reflected in the symtable.
Linked PRs
  • gh-122986

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reading the compiler and symtable implementations, focusing on push_inlined_comprehension_state and the handling of inlined comprehensions and exception handlers. Done means establishing a cleaner interface in which the compiler does not modify the symtable, symtable-owned calculations move there, and scope changes are represented consistently.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Refactor
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
15/100

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