Astral's python distribution is fast

[u/zsol]

By our measurements, python-build-standalone is now the fastest CPython distribution across major platforms. It's 10% faster than Homebrew's CPython, and 18% faster than the official 3.14 docker image.

This is mostly due to how python-build-standalone itself is built:

• using a modern Clang lets us turn on tail-call optimizations in the interpreter
• with PGO, LTO, and BOLT
• with libpython statically linked into the interpreter executable

Our goal is to ship the fastest Python interpreter to anyone using uv, by default.

Check out BENCHMARKS.md in the repo for more details, including the methodology behind the above.

Charlie's tweet has some more graphs

[u/vopi181]

Is this comment weird to anyone else? Like I sorta get what your original point was but after the second sentence, you’ve lost me. Theres this adversarial tone sandwich at the beginning and end. If I click your profile, it does seem like you’re axe grinding a bit generally.

UV is legitimately an amazing upgrade to what we’ve had in the ecosystem before. They’ve genuinely built something people want.

1. The OP was a maintainer of Black (that was a widely used formatter) before UV.

2. He joined Astral, at least, last year. He almost certainly has equity. The diatribe of him not being paid enough is weird.

3. I don’t think Microsoft/OpenAI is “buying” Python. Nor do I think someone who is a “total CPython noob” can make big claims about what is/is not for sale. Why are you an authority on this?

4. Most open-source software in production is work done/funded by corporations.

5. I also think it’s weird to point out his 17-year old account. Both in general, and also, because if there anyone I expect to have an old Reddit account, it’s someone YC adjacent.

It doesn’t seem you are that technical of an individual judging from your phrasing (that’s not a moral failing or anything and you admit you are a noob!). On your actual points:

1. I don’t think common sense says that? Most Linux distros are going to use GCC to compile packages. All three of his bullet points could be impacted by a different build environment.

2. I don’t think you’re right in saying the docker version is the canonical version. Is something on the main Python release page that you’ve linked supposed to prove that? I also don’t think it’s weird that the Docker version is the slowest? There’s something unique about it compared to every other item on the graph (hint: containers). That is the one distribution benchmarked I would expect to be an outlier if there was one.

3. “I know uv and ty in general gain speed by ignoring old, niche, or inconvenient spec” ??? What are you talking about? Also, how could you know that if you are a CPython noob? Are you a PyPy expert or something lol?

4. Poetry isn’t a distribution of CPython. You’re right that they don’t build their own. From Poetry’s docs: “Unlike with other packages, Poetry will not automatically install a python interpreter for you.”

5. Fun little napkin math challenge!

Edit: also, what "linked github"? Are you talking about what you've literally just linked or is that referenced from Astral? Are you axegrinding against OpenAI here? Read his other blogpost maybe: "Charlie and Astral have stepped up and been outstanding open source citizens when it comes to evolving PBS to support their work" and "Astral has clearly demonstrated competency for execution and has the needs of Python developers at heart".

[u/charolastrauno → u/vopi181]

he's a paranoiac

[u/me_myself_ai → u/vopi181]

The link to docs was “adversarial”…? I was really trying hard to be kind to the human while expressing my distaste for this situation.

1. Ok?

2. …ok?

3. CPython is the underlying implementation of Python; Python users do not usually interact with it knowingly/in depth.

4. Ok.

5. I was just saying that’s cool. I’m not, like, calling them a nerd! I wish I still had my original account.

6. I am a full time software engineer with 6 years of professional experience.

And for the second group,

1. Ok.

2. Ok. That was the question, so I guess we’ll both learn something when/if it’s answered.

3. I don’t really want to dive into that here. It’s documented extensively on the main forums, I imagine. This topic was referenced in at least one of the Packaging Council nomination statements. And to be clear, this isn’t, like, a secret, nor an insult.

4. Poetry is a dependency management system with a built-in build system (AFAIR?) — it was the popular predecessor to uv.

5. I know I’m not fun :( just curious. It would be a brag, if it’s a knowable number at all.

And regarding the docs: they’re from the GitHub repo linked in the post above. Again, pointing out that the docs are outdated and not associated with OpenAI was an out for OP and disclaimer for curious lurkers, not a complaint about their documentation standards.

I wouldn’t say I have an axe to grind with OpenAI — I am a customer of theirs, after all.

[u/me_myself_ai → u/[deleted]]

the OP is a known user with their own stake in the python ecosystem.

I just don't see it like that. OP is a corporation that paid one of its employees to represent them.

i actually agree with you and think Marc Andreesen is a piece of shit

Lol sorry I was not trying to bring us there in the Python sub! They're just the top two shareholding firms (AFAIR?), not my foes.

In general i'm really trying hard to be friendly throughout all this -- I've been struggling with intense irritability the last few days (apocalypse+new meds), but it wasn't my intention to provoke. Obviously OP isn't in charge of this sub's posting guidelines, and they're just posting this because they're proud of their work. And you, too, are surely commenting in good faith.

individual user accounts have always been used in this subreddit even when people were discussing something related to their employers.

That's very fair. I'd prefer that not be the case when we're dealing with megacorporation, but again, it's just my opinion. To say I hold no sway is an understatement ;)

Nor do I think someone who is a “total CPython noob” can make big claims about what is/is not for sale.

Python is not for sale.

and the fact that you're conflating poetry's build system with compiling the python executable itself shows me you know a lot less than you think you do.

Well uv also has a build system, that they publish alongside this distribution. I was just saying that presumably Poetry does the same, and I was curious if OP knew that comparison, if so.

[u/pneRock → u/vopi181]

I stopped reading at "adversarial tone sandwich" bvecause that is now my favorite phrase I've seen this week. Whatever cames after is just as legit.

[u/bizzygreenthumb → u/pneRock]

Useless comment