Explain to me what the big deal with tail call optimization is and why Python needs it

Question

So apparently, there\'s been a big brouhaha over whether or not Python needs tail call optimization. This came to a head when someone shipped Guido a copy of SICP because he di

Answer 1

Personally, I put great value on tail call optimization; but mainly because it makes recursion as efficient as iteration (or makes iteration a subset of recursion). In minimalistic languages you get huge expressive power without sacrificing performance.

In a 'practical' language (like Python), OTOH, you usually have a lot of other constructions for almost every situation imaginable, so it's less critical. It is always a good thing to have, to allow for unforeseen situations, of course.

Personally, I put great value on tail call optimization; but mainly because it makes recursion as efficient as iteration (or makes iteration a subset of recursion). In minimalistic languages you get huge expressive power without sacrificing performance.

In a 'practical' language (like Python), OTOH, you usually have a lot of other constructions for almost every situation imaginable, so it's less critical. It is always a good thing to have, to allow for unforeseen situations, of course.