python / python/cpython

Inconsistent handling of the modulo argument for ternary pow() (pure-Python vs extension)

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interpreter-core type-bug
Dominant language
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Description

Bug report

Bug description:

This is a follow-up of the https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/130104.

An example with the stdlib:

>>> import decimal, _pydecimal
>>> pow(2, 3, decimal.Decimal(4))
Decimal('0')
>>> pow(2, 3, _pydecimal.Decimal(4))
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<python-input-5>", line 1, in <module>
    pow(2, 3, _pydecimal.Decimal(4))
    ~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for ** or pow(): 'int', 'int', 'Decimal'

IIUIC, pow() it just calls the __pow__() for the third argument with original order of ops as a fallback. So, we can just do something like this:

diff --git a/Objects/typeobject.c b/Objects/typeobject.c
index 14bc5a4bc4..911c890fcb 100644
--- a/Objects/typeobject.c
+++ b/Objects/typeobject.c
@@ -10377,7 +10377,27 @@ slot_nb_power(PyObject *self, PyObject *other, PyObject *modulus)
         stack[2] = modulus;
         return vectorcall_maybe(tstate, &_Py_ID(__rpow__), stack, 3);
     }
-    Py_RETURN_NOTIMPLEMENTED;
+    stack[0] = self;
+    stack[1] = other;
+    stack[2] = modulus;
+
+    _PyCStackRef cref;
+    _PyThreadState_PushCStackRef(tstate, &cref);
+    int unbound = lookup_maybe_method(modulus, &_Py_ID(__pow__), &cref.ref);
+    PyObject *func = PyStackRef_AsPyObjectBorrow(cref.ref);
+
+    if (func == NULL) {
+        _PyThreadState_PopCStackRef(tstate, &cref);
+        if (!PyErr_Occurred()) {
+            Py_RETURN_NOTIMPLEMENTED;
+        }
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    PyObject *retval = vectorcall_unbound(tstate, unbound, func, stack, 3);
+
+    _PyThreadState_PopCStackRef(tstate, &cref);
+    return retval;
 }
 
 SLOT0(slot_nb_negative, __neg__)

Full patch: https://github.com/skirpichev/cpython/pull/9

CPython versions tested on:

CPython main branch

Operating systems tested on:

No response

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 in Objects/typeobject.c at slot_nb_power and reproduce the decimal/_pydecimal examples from the report on a CPython main build. Compare ternary pow() behavior between the pure-Python and extension implementations; done means both handle the modulo argument consistently without regressing existing fallback behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
c, python
Domain
compilers
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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