For our students, the matrix class is really appealing as we use a lot of
linear algebra and expressions with matrices simply look better with an
operator instead of a function:
x=A.I*b
looks much better than
x = np.dot(np.linalg.inv(A),b)
And this gets worse when the expression is longer:
x = R.I*A*R*b
becomes:
x = np.dot( np.linalg.inv(R), np.dot(A, np.dot(R, b)))
Actually, not being involved in earlier discussions on this topic, I was a bit
surprised by this and do not see the problem of having the matrix class as
nobody is obliged to use it. I tried to find the reasons, but did not find it
in the thread mentioned. Maybe someone could summarize the main problem with
keeping this class for newbies on this list like me?
Anyway, I would say that there is a clear use for the matrix class: readability
of linear algebra code and hence a lower chance of errors, so higher
productivity.
Just my 2cts,
Jacco Hoekstra
P.S. Also: A = np.mat("2 3 ; -1 0") is very handy!
-----Original Message-----
From: numpy-discussion-boun...@scipy.org
[mailto:numpy-discussion-boun...@scipy.org] On Behalf Of Pauli Virtanen
Sent: dinsdag 11 februari 2014 12:47
To: numpy-discussion@scipy.org
Subject: Re: [Numpy-discussion] deprecate numpy.matrix
Sturla Molden <sturla.molden <at> gmail.com> writes:
> Pauli Virtanen <pav <at> iki.fi> wrote:
> > It is not a good thing that there is no well defined "domain
> > specific language" for matrix algebra in Python.
>
> Perhaps Python should get some new operators?
It might still be possible to advocate for this in core Python, even though the
ship has sailed long ago.
Some previous discussion:
[1] http://fperez.org/py4science/numpy-pep225/numpy-pep225.html
[2] http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0225/
[3] http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0211/
(My own take would be that one extra operator is enough for most purposes, and
would be easier to push for.)
[clip]
> On the serious side, I don't think there really is a good solution to
> this problem at all.
This is true. However, I'd prefer to have one solution over several conflicting
ones.
--
Pauli Virtanen
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