[pygame] Python, Pygame and Performance

[Jacob Schwartz <kevlarx@netidea.com>]

   Hello,
This is my first post on this mailing list, so please forgive my 
countless errors :)

I am fairly new to programming in python (only a few months) and so far 
have loved it. A _lot_.

Now here is my dilemma, whenever I talk about writing code in python 
(especially game related things) people always seem to come back with 
the same response 'its too slow!' ... or laugh off its feasibility.

I know that python is not an ideal language to write a full fledged game 
in (it is more of a glue language after all), but lately I have been 
spending a lot of time on a mini game project and the results have been 
impressive.

I have written similar programs previously in C++, using DirectX (via my 
own low level wrappers) and the performance of that was at most - only 
slighter better then using pygame.
- But I didn't have the safety of python, the clean list semantics, and 
rapid pace of development on my side. All major advantages that come 
from using pygame.

I don't believe I'm alone in noticing this illogical dislike for 
python/pygame.
Has anyone else experienced this?

Any tips on what to do about it (besides hitting the nay-sayer with a 
stick)?

Would anyone be interested in writing an article, or some benchmarks to 
actually give some *solid* evidence we could direct people to when the 
'pygame's too slow' argument comes up?

Python advocacy is harder then it looks! :)
             - Jacob