Documentation

mxQueue - Fast Queue Datatype for Python

Documentation for mxQueue in HTML format.
A PDF version is available for printing and offline use.
Version: 3.2.9


1. Introduction

Even though queues can be emulated with Python lists, this type provides a simple interface to the data structure, both in Python and in C.

Note that the mxQueue implementation uses a similar approach as the mxStack implementation. However, due to the added complexity, it lacks a few of the mxStack methods.

1.1 Performance Comparison

Because of the function call overhead calling the methods from Python it is only a tad faster than a corresponding list emulation. Called from within an C extension shows a more significant performance increase. The included queuebench.py gives an impression of how the different methods relate with respect to speed:

mx/Queue> python queuebench.py  1000 1000 100

list:  0.38

Queue (with push + pop): 0.33

Queue (with << + >>): 0.32

UserQueue: 0.84

Note that the tuple version has a few disadvantages when used for big queues: for one it uses lots of memory (20 bytes per entry slot; Queue uses 20 bytes + 4 bytes per entry slot) and deallocation can become a problem -- this is done using recursion with one level per queue element. For small queues it still is unbeatable, though (it has no function call overhead).

The UserQueue implementation shown above, which is part of the package, uses the same technique: the figures shown mainly result from Python method call overhead.

1.2 Memory Management

Because queues are normally used only temporarily, the Queue implementation only grows the memory buffer used for holding the entry slots. It never shrinks it. This has an advantage of reducing malloc() overhead when doing e.g. depth first search, but also the disadvantage of using more memory in degenerate cases.

2. mx.Queue.Queue Object

The Queue object provides the following interfaces.

2.1 Queue Constructors

Queue([initial_size])

Returns a new empty Queue instance allocating at least the given number of slots for queue elements. If the parameter is not given a reasonable default is chosen.

2.2 Queue Object Instance Methods

A Queueinstance has the following methods:

.as_tuple()

Returns the queue's content as tuple, without modifying it.

.as_list()

Returns the queue's content as list, without modifying it.

.clear()

Clears the queue.

.pop()

Pops the top element off of the queue. Raises an EmptyError in case no elements are currently stored in the queue.

.push(x)

Pushes the object x onto the queue.

Note that no method for testing emptiness is provided. Use len()for that or simply test for trueness, e.g. while q: print q.pop() will loop as long as there are elements left on the Queue q. This is much faster than going through the method calling process -- even when the method being called is written in C.

3. mx.Queue Constants

Error

Error class used for package specific errors. It is a subclass of IndexError.

EmptyError

Error class used to signal an empty queue. It is a subclass of Error.

4. mx.Queue Python C-API

mxQueue exposes a Python C-API which can easily be used by other Python extensions. Please have look at the file mxQueue.h for details.

Most of the above Python interfaces are also available in the C API.

To access the module, do the following (note the similarities with Python's way of accessing functions from a module):

#include "mxQueue.h"

...

  PyObject *v;

  /* Import the mxQueue module */

  if (mxQueue_ImportModuleAndAPI())

  goto onError;

  /* Access functions from the exported C API through mxQueue */

  v = mxQueue.Queue(0);

  if (!v)

  goto onError;

  /* Type checking */

  if (mxQueue_Check(v))

  printf("Works.\n");

  Py_DECREF(v);

...

5. Examples of Use

Well, there's not much to show:

from mx.Queue import *

q = Queue()

for i in range(1000):

  q.push(i)

print q.as_tuple()

print q.as_list()

while q:

  print q.pop()

print q.as_tuple()

print q.as_list()

6. Package Structure

[Queue]

  Doc/

  [mxQueue]

  test.py

  UserQueue.py

Queuebench.py

Entries enclosed in brackets are packages (i.e. they are directories that include a __init__.py file). Ones without brackets are just simple subdirectories that are not accessible via import. These are used for compiling the C extension modules which will get installed in the same place where all your other site specific extensions live (e.g. /usr/local/lib/python-x.xx/site-packages).

The package imports all symbols from the Proxy sub module which in turn imports the extension module, so you only need to 'from mx import Queue' to start working.

7. Support

eGenix.com is providing commercial support for this package. If you are interested in receiving information about this service please see the eGenix.com Support Conditions.

8. Copyright & License

© 1997-2000, Copyright by IKDS Marc-André Lemburg; All Rights Reserved. mailto: mal@lemburg.com

© 2001-2011, Copyright by eGenix.com Software GmbH, Langenfeld, Germany; All Rights Reserved. mailto: info@egenix.com

This software is covered by the eGenix.com Public License Agreement, which is included in the following section. The text of the license is also included as file "LICENSE" in the package's main directory.

By downloading, copying, installing or otherwise using the software, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the following eGenix.com Public License Agreement.


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