Pi Pico (RP2040) MicroPython Double Precision

RE: Pi Pico (RP2040) MicroPython Double Precision

shabaz — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 01:18:54 GMT

Another interesting thing I learned this week, is that despite trying to force variables to be integers, some operations will provide a floating point result.

Those need to then be converted to integer if that is important to whatever you're doing, otherwise one could continue to use the floating-point result of course. Python (not just MicroPython, but normal Python too) implicitly changes to float whenever it feels the need to.

Another interesting thing is that the following is an integer:

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:3ef06e6b-9b7d-4651-b12d-db8be7f5e991:type=text&text=a+%3D+100000000]

but the following is floating point:

[embed:dc8ab71f-3b98-42d9-b0f6-e21e02a0f8e2:3ef06e6b-9b7d-4651-b12d-db8be7f5e991:type=text&text=b+%3D+100e6]

Here's the output with the double-precision build of MicroPython, but as mentioned, normal Python does the same thing:

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x226/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-383b3bd1-ab3d-4696-a7bc-7916835a65f9/7433.contentimage_5F00_216646.png:620:226]

RE: Pi Pico (RP2040) MicroPython Double Precision

robogary — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 19:45:33 GMT

Impressive.

RE: Pi Pico (RP2040) MicroPython Double Precision

Jan Cumps — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 18:14:25 GMT

I've been following the discussions on the precision (and other limits) of micro- and circuit Python on the community.

Haven't the providers of these platforms deliberately restricted the functionality?

The Pico is a microcontroller, typically focused on micro-controlling. The Pi, that comes with a full precision Python, is a processor that is usually aimed at more advanced tasks like calculating.

I think it's great that you can build a custom binary that gives the precision you need.

I also think that the designers made a valid call to restrict the functionality by default and free the related resources for user programs.

Fair?