Merged revisions 59107-59186 via svnmerge from
svn+ssh://pythondev@svn.python.org/python/trunk

(Note: some conflicts in the PCbuild9 directory reverted.  Sorry Christian!)

........
  r59120 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-22 03:21:16 -0800 (Thu, 22 Nov 2007) | 3 lines

  Backport of the PCbuild9 directory from the py3k branch.
  I've finished the last task for the PCbuild9 directory today. I don't think there is much left to do. Now you can all play around with the shiny new VS 2008 and try the PGO builds. I was able to get a speed improvement of about 10% on py3k.
  Have fun! :)
........
  r59126 | brett.cannon | 2007-11-22 16:06:51 -0800 (Thu, 22 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Fix a bug in the test for using __loader__.get_data().
........
  r59131 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-22 23:05:03 -0800 (Thu, 22 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  Backport of PCbuild9 fixes from py3k r59130
........
  r59132 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 01:10:36 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Applied patch #1754273 and #1754271 from Thomas Glee
  The patches are adding deprecation warnings for back ticks and <>
........
  r59133 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 04:12:02 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Fixed problems in the last commit. Filenames and line numbers weren't reported correctly.
  Backquotes still don't report the correct file. The AST nodes only contain the line number but not the file name.
........
  r59134 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 04:16:35 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  How did the comment get there?
........
  r59135 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 05:25:31 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  And yet another fix for the patch. Paul Moore has send me a note that I've missed a declaration. The additional code has moved the declaration in the middle of the block.
........
  r59136 | andrew.kuchling | 2007-11-23 05:37:39 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  Add item
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  r59137 | skip.montanaro | 2007-11-23 09:08:35 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Make trace and doctest play nice together (issue 1429818).  Will backport.
........
  r59139 | skip.montanaro | 2007-11-23 09:12:47 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  issue 1429818
........
  r59144 | facundo.batista | 2007-11-23 09:59:00 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 10 lines


  Major change in the internal structure of the Decimal
  number: now it does not store the mantissa as a tuple
  of numbers, but as a string.

  This avoids a lot of conversions, and achieves a
  speedup of 40%. The API remains intact.

  Thanks Mark Dickinson.
........
  r59146 | facundo.batista | 2007-11-23 10:14:50 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 3 lines


  Test cases from Cowlishaw, v2.57. All are pased cleanly.
........
  r59156 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 17:36:02 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Added filename to compiling struct based on Martin's suggestion.
  I'm wonder why I was trying to add the filename to the node all the time. The compiling struct is more obvious.
........
  r59158 | christian.heimes | 2007-11-23 17:53:59 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Backport of fixes from py3k branch
  svn merge -r59131:HEAD ../../py3k/PCbuild9/ .
........
  r59159 | skip.montanaro | 2007-11-23 20:29:08 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  revert change that breaks test_doctest (which I forgot to run - sorry)
........
  r59162 | skip.montanaro | 2007-11-23 20:31:15 -0800 (Fri, 23 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  revert
........
  r59164 | georg.brandl | 2007-11-24 03:31:46 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 3 lines

  #1344: document that you need to open std{in,out,err} with PIPE if you want
  communicate() to work as described.
........
  r59165 | georg.brandl | 2007-11-24 03:39:13 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  #1467: fix documentation for TestResult.add{Error,Failure}.
........
  r59166 | georg.brandl | 2007-11-24 03:42:14 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  #1355: remove mention of PyXML from xml.dom docs.
........
  r59169 | amaury.forgeotdarc | 2007-11-24 05:20:22 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Warning "<> not supported in 3.x" should be enabled only when the -3 option is set.
........
  r59170 | amaury.forgeotdarc | 2007-11-24 05:44:17 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 3 lines

  Issue #1445: Fix a SystemError when accessing the ``cell_contents``
  attribute of an empty cell object.  Now a ValueError is raised.
........
  r59172 | georg.brandl | 2007-11-24 05:56:09 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 3 lines

  #1735632: add O_NOATIME constant to os module.
  Also document a few other O_ constants that were missing from documentation.
........
  r59173 | skip.montanaro | 2007-11-24 06:30:47 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 1 line

  back in these go - thanks to Titus Brown for the fix
........
  r59176 | martin.v.loewis | 2007-11-24 10:33:40 -0800 (Sat, 24 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  Bug #1494: Document that appendChild removes first.
........
  r59186 | guido.van.rossum | 2007-11-26 14:16:49 -0800 (Mon, 26 Nov 2007) | 2 lines

  A thread-less variant of brownian.py, submitted by Michele Simoniato.
........
diff --git a/Lib/decimal.py b/Lib/decimal.py
index faf9bf7..7842cb2 100644
--- a/Lib/decimal.py
+++ b/Lib/decimal.py
@@ -214,10 +214,10 @@
     def handle(self, context, *args):
         if args:
             if args[0] == 1:  # sNaN, must drop 's' but keep diagnostics
-                ans = Decimal((args[1]._sign, args[1]._int, 'n'))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(args[1]._sign, args[1]._int, 'n', True)
                 return ans._fix_nan(context)
             elif args[0] == 2:
-                return Decimal( (args[1], args[2], 'n') )
+                return _dec_from_triple(args[1], args[2], 'n', True)
         return NaN
 
 
@@ -350,13 +350,13 @@
         if sign == 0:
             if context.rounding == ROUND_CEILING:
                 return Infsign[sign]
-            return Decimal((sign, (9,)*context.prec,
-                            context.Emax-context.prec+1))
+            return _dec_from_triple(sign, '9'*context.prec,
+                            context.Emax-context.prec+1)
         if sign == 1:
             if context.rounding == ROUND_FLOOR:
                 return Infsign[sign]
-            return Decimal( (sign, (9,)*context.prec,
-                             context.Emax-context.prec+1))
+            return _dec_from_triple(sign, '9'*context.prec,
+                             context.Emax-context.prec+1)
 
 
 class Underflow(Inexact, Rounded, Subnormal):
@@ -531,13 +531,21 @@
         Decimal("314")
         """
 
+        # Note that the coefficient, self._int, is actually stored as
+        # a string rather than as a tuple of digits.  This speeds up
+        # the "digits to integer" and "integer to digits" conversions
+        # that are used in almost every arithmetic operation on
+        # Decimals.  This is an internal detail: the as_tuple function
+        # and the Decimal constructor still deal with tuples of
+        # digits.
+
         self = object.__new__(cls)
         self._is_special = False
 
         # From an internal working value
         if isinstance(value, _WorkRep):
             self._sign = value.sign
-            self._int = tuple(map(int, str(value.int)))
+            self._int = str(value.int)
             self._exp = int(value.exp)
             return self
 
@@ -556,7 +564,7 @@
             else:
                 self._sign = 1
             self._exp = 0
-            self._int = tuple(map(int, str(abs(value))))
+            self._int = str(abs(value))
             return self
 
         # tuple/list conversion (possibly from as_tuple())
@@ -573,7 +581,7 @@
             self._sign = value[0]
             if value[2] == 'F':
                 # infinity: value[1] is ignored
-                self._int = (0,)
+                self._int = '0'
                 self._exp = value[2]
                 self._is_special = True
             else:
@@ -590,12 +598,12 @@
                                          "0 through 9.")
                 if value[2] in ('n', 'N'):
                     # NaN: digits form the diagnostic
-                    self._int = tuple(digits)
+                    self._int = ''.join(map(str, digits))
                     self._exp = value[2]
                     self._is_special = True
                 elif isinstance(value[2], int):
                     # finite number: digits give the coefficient
-                    self._int = tuple(digits or [0])
+                    self._int = ''.join(map(str, digits or [0]))
                     self._exp = value[2]
                     self._is_special = False
                 else:
@@ -608,38 +616,46 @@
             raise TypeError("Cannot convert float to Decimal.  " +
                             "First convert the float to a string")
 
-        # Other argument types may require the context during interpretation
-        if context is None:
-            context = getcontext()
-
         # From a string
         # REs insist on real strings, so we can too.
         if isinstance(value, str):
-            if _isinfinity(value):
-                self._exp = 'F'
-                self._int = (0,)
-                self._is_special = True
-                if _isinfinity(value) == 1:
-                    self._sign = 0
-                else:
-                    self._sign = 1
-                return self
-            if _isnan(value):
-                sig, sign, diag = _isnan(value)
-                self._is_special = True
-                if sig == 1:
-                    self._exp = 'n'  # qNaN
-                else:  # sig == 2
-                    self._exp = 'N'  # sNaN
-                self._sign = sign
-                self._int = tuple(map(int, diag))  # Diagnostic info
-                return self
-            try:
-                self._sign, self._int, self._exp = _string2exact(value)
-            except ValueError:
-                self._is_special = True
+            m = _parser(value)
+            if m is None:
+                if context is None:
+                    context = getcontext()
                 return context._raise_error(ConversionSyntax,
-                                   "Invalid literal for Decimal: %r" % value)
+                                "Invalid literal for Decimal: %r" % value)
+
+            if m.group('sign') == "-":
+                self._sign = 1
+            else:
+                self._sign = 0
+            intpart = m.group('int')
+            if intpart is not None:
+                # finite number
+                fracpart = m.group('frac')
+                exp = int(m.group('exp') or '0')
+                if fracpart is not None:
+                    self._int = (intpart+fracpart).lstrip('0') or '0'
+                    self._exp = exp - len(fracpart)
+                else:
+                    self._int = intpart.lstrip('0') or '0'
+                    self._exp = exp
+                self._is_special = False
+            else:
+                diag = m.group('diag')
+                if diag is not None:
+                    # NaN
+                    self._int = diag.lstrip('0')
+                    if m.group('signal'):
+                        self._exp = 'N'
+                    else:
+                        self._exp = 'n'
+                else:
+                    # infinity
+                    self._int = '0'
+                    self._exp = 'F'
+                self._is_special = True
             return self
 
         raise TypeError("Cannot convert %r to Decimal" % value)
@@ -709,7 +725,7 @@
 
         NaNs and infinities are considered nonzero.
         """
-        return self._is_special or self._int[0] != 0
+        return self._is_special or self._int != '0'
 
     def __cmp__(self, other):
         other = _convert_other(other)
@@ -743,8 +759,8 @@
         self_adjusted = self.adjusted()
         other_adjusted = other.adjusted()
         if self_adjusted == other_adjusted:
-            self_padded = self._int + (0,)*(self._exp - other._exp)
-            other_padded = other._int + (0,)*(other._exp - self._exp)
+            self_padded = self._int + '0'*(self._exp - other._exp)
+            other_padded = other._int + '0'*(other._exp - self._exp)
             return cmp(self_padded, other_padded) * (-1)**self._sign
         elif self_adjusted > other_adjusted:
             return (-1)**self._sign
@@ -827,7 +843,7 @@
 
         To show the internals exactly as they are.
         """
-        return (self._sign, self._int, self._exp)
+        return (self._sign, tuple(map(int, self._int)), self._exp)
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """Represents the number as an instance of Decimal."""
@@ -843,10 +859,10 @@
         if self._is_special:
             if self._isnan():
                 minus = '-'*self._sign
-                if self._int == (0,):
+                if self._int == '0':
                     info = ''
                 else:
-                    info = ''.join(map(str, self._int))
+                    info = self._int
                 if self._isnan() == 2:
                     return minus + 'sNaN' + info
                 return minus + 'NaN' + info
@@ -857,7 +873,7 @@
         if context is None:
             context = getcontext()
 
-        tmp = list(map(str, self._int))
+        tmp = list(self._int)
         numdigits = len(self._int)
         leftdigits = self._exp + numdigits
         if eng and not self:  # self = 0eX wants 0[.0[0]]eY, not [[0]0]0eY
@@ -1030,7 +1046,7 @@
             sign = min(self._sign, other._sign)
             if negativezero:
                 sign = 1
-            ans = Decimal( (sign, (0,), exp))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(sign, '0', exp)
             if shouldround:
                 ans = ans._fix(context)
             return ans
@@ -1055,7 +1071,7 @@
         if op1.sign != op2.sign:
             # Equal and opposite
             if op1.int == op2.int:
-                ans = Decimal((negativezero, (0,), exp))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(negativezero, '0', exp)
                 if shouldround:
                     ans = ans._fix(context)
                 return ans
@@ -1121,7 +1137,7 @@
         For example:
         Decimal('5.624e10')._increment() == Decimal('5.625e10')
         """
-        L = list(self._int)
+        L = list(map(int, self._int))
         L[-1] += 1
         spot = len(L)-1
         while L[spot] == 10:
@@ -1131,7 +1147,7 @@
                 break
             L[spot-1] += 1
             spot -= 1
-        return Decimal((self._sign, L, self._exp))
+        return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, "".join(map(str, L)), self._exp)
 
     def __mul__(self, other, context=None):
         """Return self * other.
@@ -1167,20 +1183,20 @@
 
         # Special case for multiplying by zero
         if not self or not other:
-            ans = Decimal((resultsign, (0,), resultexp))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(resultsign, '0', resultexp)
             if shouldround:
                 # Fixing in case the exponent is out of bounds
                 ans = ans._fix(context)
             return ans
 
         # Special case for multiplying by power of 10
-        if self._int == (1,):
-            ans = Decimal((resultsign, other._int, resultexp))
+        if self._int == '1':
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(resultsign, other._int, resultexp)
             if shouldround:
                 ans = ans._fix(context)
             return ans
-        if other._int == (1,):
-            ans = Decimal((resultsign, self._int, resultexp))
+        if other._int == '1':
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(resultsign, self._int, resultexp)
             if shouldround:
                 ans = ans._fix(context)
             return ans
@@ -1188,9 +1204,7 @@
         op1 = _WorkRep(self)
         op2 = _WorkRep(other)
 
-        ans = Decimal((resultsign,
-                       tuple(map(int, str(op1.int * op2.int))),
-                       resultexp))
+        ans = _dec_from_triple(resultsign, str(op1.int * op2.int), resultexp)
         if shouldround:
             ans = ans._fix(context)
 
@@ -1221,7 +1235,7 @@
 
             if other._isinfinity():
                 context._raise_error(Clamped, 'Division by infinity')
-                return Decimal((sign, (0,), context.Etiny()))
+                return _dec_from_triple(sign, '0', context.Etiny())
 
         # Special cases for zeroes
         if not other:
@@ -1253,7 +1267,7 @@
                     coeff //= 10
                     exp += 1
 
-        ans = Decimal((sign, list(map(int, str(coeff))), exp))
+        ans = _dec_from_triple(sign, str(coeff), exp)
         return ans._fix(context)
 
     def _divide(self, other, context):
@@ -1270,7 +1284,7 @@
 
         expdiff = self.adjusted() - other.adjusted()
         if not self or other._isinfinity() or expdiff <= -2:
-            return (Decimal((sign, (0,), 0)),
+            return (_dec_from_triple(sign, '0', 0),
                     self._rescale(ideal_exp, context.rounding))
         if expdiff <= context.prec:
             op1 = _WorkRep(self)
@@ -1281,9 +1295,8 @@
                 op2.int *= 10**(op2.exp - op1.exp)
             q, r = divmod(op1.int, op2.int)
             if q < 10**context.prec:
-                return (Decimal((sign, list(map(int, str(q))), 0)),
-                        Decimal((self._sign, list(map(int, str(r))),
-                                ideal_exp)))
+                return (_dec_from_triple(sign, str(q), 0),
+                        _dec_from_triple(self._sign, str(r), ideal_exp))
 
         # Here the quotient is too large to be representable
         ans = context._raise_error(DivisionImpossible,
@@ -1411,7 +1424,7 @@
         # self = 0 -> remainder = self, with ideal exponent
         ideal_exponent = min(self._exp, other._exp)
         if not self:
-            ans = Decimal((self._sign, (0,), ideal_exponent))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', ideal_exponent)
             return ans._fix(context)
 
         # catch most cases of large or small quotient
@@ -1448,7 +1461,7 @@
             sign = 1-sign
             r = -r
 
-        ans = Decimal((sign, list(map(int, str(r))), ideal_exponent))
+        ans = _dec_from_triple(sign, str(r), ideal_exponent)
         return ans._fix(context)
 
     def __floordiv__(self, other, context=None):
@@ -1500,9 +1513,9 @@
                 raise OverflowError("Cannot convert infinity to int")
         s = (-1)**self._sign
         if self._exp >= 0:
-            return s*int(''.join(map(str, self._int)))*10**self._exp
+            return s*int(self._int)*10**self._exp
         else:
-            return s*int(''.join(map(str, self._int))[:self._exp] or '0')
+            return s*int(self._int[:self._exp] or '0')
 
     def _fix_nan(self, context):
         """Decapitate the payload of a NaN to fit the context"""
@@ -1512,11 +1525,8 @@
         # precision-1 if _clamp=1.
         max_payload_len = context.prec - context._clamp
         if len(payload) > max_payload_len:
-            pos = len(payload)-max_payload_len
-            while pos < len(payload) and payload[pos] == 0:
-                pos += 1
-            payload = payload[pos:]
-            return Decimal((self._sign, payload, self._exp))
+            payload = payload[len(payload)-max_payload_len:].lstrip('0')
+            return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, payload, self._exp, True)
         return Decimal(self)
 
     def _fix(self, context):
@@ -1549,7 +1559,7 @@
             new_exp = min(max(self._exp, Etiny), exp_max)
             if new_exp != self._exp:
                 context._raise_error(Clamped)
-                return Decimal((self._sign, (0,), new_exp))
+                return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', new_exp)
             else:
                 return Decimal(self)
 
@@ -1581,7 +1591,8 @@
                     # we get here only if rescaling rounds the
                     # cofficient up to exactly 10**context.prec
                     if ans._exp < Etop:
-                        ans = Decimal((ans._sign, ans._int[:-1], ans._exp+1))
+                        ans = _dec_from_triple(ans._sign,
+                                                   ans._int[:-1], ans._exp+1)
                     else:
                         # Inexact and Rounded have already been raised
                         ans = context._raise_error(Overflow, 'above Emax',
@@ -1591,8 +1602,8 @@
         # fold down if _clamp == 1 and self has too few digits
         if context._clamp == 1 and self._exp > Etop:
             context._raise_error(Clamped)
-            self_padded = self._int + (0,)*(self._exp - Etop)
-            return Decimal((self._sign, self_padded, Etop))
+            self_padded = self._int + '0'*(self._exp - Etop)
+            return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, self_padded, Etop)
 
         # here self was representable to begin with; return unchanged
         return Decimal(self)
@@ -1607,29 +1618,29 @@
     def _round_down(self, prec):
         """Also known as round-towards-0, truncate."""
         newexp = self._exp + len(self._int) - prec
-        return Decimal((self._sign, self._int[:prec] or (0,), newexp))
+        return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, self._int[:prec] or '0', newexp)
 
     def _round_up(self, prec):
         """Rounds away from 0."""
         newexp = self._exp + len(self._int) - prec
-        tmp = Decimal((self._sign, self._int[:prec] or (0,), newexp))
+        tmp = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, self._int[:prec] or '0', newexp)
         for digit in self._int[prec:]:
-            if digit != 0:
+            if digit != '0':
                 return tmp._increment()
         return tmp
 
     def _round_half_up(self, prec):
         """Rounds 5 up (away from 0)"""
-        if self._int[prec] >= 5:
+        if self._int[prec] in '56789':
             return self._round_up(prec)
         else:
             return self._round_down(prec)
 
     def _round_half_down(self, prec):
         """Round 5 down"""
-        if self._int[prec] == 5:
+        if self._int[prec] == '5':
             for digit in self._int[prec+1:]:
-                if digit != 0:
+                if digit != '0':
                     break
             else:
                 return self._round_down(prec)
@@ -1637,7 +1648,7 @@
 
     def _round_half_even(self, prec):
         """Round 5 to even, rest to nearest."""
-        if prec and self._int[prec-1] & 1:
+        if prec and self._int[prec-1] in '13579':
             return self._round_half_up(prec)
         else:
             return self._round_half_down(prec)
@@ -1658,7 +1669,7 @@
 
     def _round_05up(self, prec):
         """Round down unless digit prec-1 is 0 or 5."""
-        if prec == 0 or self._int[prec-1] in (0, 5):
+        if prec == 0 or self._int[prec-1] in '05':
             return self._round_up(prec)
         else:
             return self._round_down(prec)
@@ -1776,7 +1787,7 @@
             base = pow(base, 10, modulo)
         base = pow(base, exponent.int, modulo)
 
-        return Decimal((sign, list(map(int, str(base))), 0))
+        return _dec_from_triple(sign, str(base), 0)
 
     def _power_exact(self, other, p):
         """Attempt to compute self**other exactly.
@@ -1866,7 +1877,7 @@
                 zeros = min(exponent-ideal_exponent, p-1)
             else:
                 zeros = 0
-            return Decimal((0, (1,) + (0,)*zeros, exponent-zeros))
+            return _dec_from_triple(0, '1' + '0'*zeros, exponent-zeros)
 
         # case where y is negative: xc must be either a power
         # of 2 or a power of 5.
@@ -1927,7 +1938,7 @@
             if xc >= 10**p:
                 return None
             xe = -e-xe
-            return Decimal((0, list(map(int, str(xc))), xe))
+            return _dec_from_triple(0, str(xc), xe)
 
         # now y is positive; find m and n such that y = m/n
         if ye >= 0:
@@ -1989,7 +2000,7 @@
             zeros = min(xe-ideal_exponent, p-len(str_xc))
         else:
             zeros = 0
-        return Decimal((0, list(map(int, str_xc))+[0,]*zeros, xe-zeros))
+        return _dec_from_triple(0, str_xc+'0'*zeros, xe-zeros)
 
     def __pow__(self, other, modulo=None, context=None):
         """Return self ** other [ % modulo].
@@ -2050,12 +2061,12 @@
                     return context._raise_error(InvalidOperation,
                         'x ** y with x negative and y not an integer')
             # negate self, without doing any unwanted rounding
-            self = Decimal((0, self._int, self._exp))
+            self = self.copy_negate()
 
         # 0**(+ve or Inf)= 0; 0**(-ve or -Inf) = Infinity
         if not self:
             if other._sign == 0:
-                return Decimal((result_sign, (0,), 0))
+                return _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '0', 0)
             else:
                 return Infsign[result_sign]
 
@@ -2064,7 +2075,7 @@
             if other._sign == 0:
                 return Infsign[result_sign]
             else:
-                return Decimal((result_sign, (0,), 0))
+                return _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '0', 0)
 
         # 1**other = 1, but the choice of exponent and the flags
         # depend on the exponent of self, and on whether other is a
@@ -2091,7 +2102,7 @@
                 context._raise_error(Rounded)
                 exp = 1-context.prec
 
-            return Decimal((result_sign, (1,)+(0,)*-exp, exp))
+            return _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '1'+'0'*-exp, exp)
 
         # compute adjusted exponent of self
         self_adj = self.adjusted()
@@ -2100,7 +2111,7 @@
         # self ** -infinity is infinity if self < 1, 0 if self > 1
         if other._isinfinity():
             if (other._sign == 0) == (self_adj < 0):
-                return Decimal((result_sign, (0,), 0))
+                return _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '0', 0)
             else:
                 return Infsign[result_sign]
 
@@ -2118,19 +2129,19 @@
             # self > 1 and other +ve, or self < 1 and other -ve
             # possibility of overflow
             if bound >= len(str(context.Emax)):
-                ans = Decimal((result_sign, (1,), context.Emax+1))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '1', context.Emax+1)
         else:
             # self > 1 and other -ve, or self < 1 and other +ve
             # possibility of underflow to 0
             Etiny = context.Etiny()
             if bound >= len(str(-Etiny)):
-                ans = Decimal((result_sign, (1,), Etiny-1))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(result_sign, '1', Etiny-1)
 
         # try for an exact result with precision +1
         if ans is None:
             ans = self._power_exact(other, context.prec + 1)
             if ans is not None and result_sign == 1:
-                ans = Decimal((1, ans._int, ans._exp))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(1, ans._int, ans._exp)
 
         # usual case: inexact result, x**y computed directly as exp(y*log(x))
         if ans is None:
@@ -2151,7 +2162,7 @@
                     break
                 extra += 3
 
-            ans = Decimal((result_sign, list(map(int, str(coeff))), exp))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(result_sign, str(coeff), exp)
 
         # the specification says that for non-integer other we need to
         # raise Inexact, even when the result is actually exact.  In
@@ -2163,7 +2174,8 @@
             # pad with zeros up to length context.prec+1 if necessary
             if len(ans._int) <= context.prec:
                 expdiff = context.prec+1 - len(ans._int)
-                ans = Decimal((ans._sign, ans._int+(0,)*expdiff, ans._exp-expdiff))
+                ans = _dec_from_triple(ans._sign, ans._int+'0'*expdiff,
+                                       ans._exp-expdiff)
             if ans.adjusted() < context.Emin:
                 context._raise_error(Underflow)
 
@@ -2195,14 +2207,14 @@
             return dup
 
         if not dup:
-            return Decimal( (dup._sign, (0,), 0) )
+            return _dec_from_triple(dup._sign, '0', 0)
         exp_max = [context.Emax, context.Etop()][context._clamp]
         end = len(dup._int)
         exp = dup._exp
-        while dup._int[end-1] == 0 and exp < exp_max:
+        while dup._int[end-1] == '0' and exp < exp_max:
             exp += 1
             end -= 1
-        return Decimal( (dup._sign, dup._int[:end], exp) )
+        return _dec_from_triple(dup._sign, dup._int[:end], exp)
 
     def quantize(self, exp, rounding=None, context=None, watchexp=True):
         """Quantize self so its exponent is the same as that of exp.
@@ -2243,7 +2255,7 @@
                    'target exponent out of bounds in quantize')
 
         if not self:
-            ans = Decimal((self._sign, (0,), exp._exp))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', exp._exp)
             return ans._fix(context)
 
         self_adjusted = self.adjusted()
@@ -2303,17 +2315,18 @@
         if self._is_special:
             return Decimal(self)
         if not self:
-            return Decimal((self._sign, (0,), exp))
+            return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', exp)
 
         if self._exp >= exp:
             # pad answer with zeros if necessary
-            return Decimal((self._sign, self._int + (0,)*(self._exp - exp), exp))
+            return _dec_from_triple(self._sign,
+                                        self._int + '0'*(self._exp - exp), exp)
 
         # too many digits; round and lose data.  If self.adjusted() <
         # exp-1, replace self by 10**(exp-1) before rounding
         digits = len(self._int) + self._exp - exp
         if digits < 0:
-            self = Decimal((self._sign, (1,), exp-1))
+            self = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '1', exp-1)
             digits = 0
         this_function = getattr(self, self._pick_rounding_function[rounding])
         return this_function(digits)
@@ -2336,7 +2349,7 @@
         if self._exp >= 0:
             return Decimal(self)
         if not self:
-            return Decimal((self._sign, (0,), 0))
+            return _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', 0)
         if context is None:
             context = getcontext()
         if rounding is None:
@@ -2378,7 +2391,7 @@
 
         if not self:
             # exponent = self._exp // 2.  sqrt(-0) = -0
-            ans = Decimal((self._sign, (0,), self._exp // 2))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, '0', self._exp // 2)
             return ans._fix(context)
 
         if context is None:
@@ -2455,7 +2468,7 @@
             if n % 5 == 0:
                 n += 1
 
-        ans = Decimal((0, list(map(int, str(n))), e))
+        ans = _dec_from_triple(0, str(n), e)
 
         # round, and fit to current context
         context = context._shallow_copy()
@@ -2552,13 +2565,13 @@
         if self._exp >= 0:
             return True
         rest = self._int[self._exp:]
-        return rest == (0,)*len(rest)
+        return rest == '0'*len(rest)
 
     def _iseven(self):
         """Returns True if self is even.  Assumes self is an integer."""
         if not self or self._exp > 0:
             return True
-        return self._int[-1+self._exp] & 1 == 0
+        return self._int[-1+self._exp] in '02468'
 
     def adjusted(self):
         """Return the adjusted exponent of self"""
@@ -2680,18 +2693,19 @@
 
     def copy_abs(self):
         """Returns a copy with the sign set to 0. """
-        return Decimal((0, self._int, self._exp))
+        return _dec_from_triple(0, self._int, self._exp, self._is_special)
 
     def copy_negate(self):
         """Returns a copy with the sign inverted."""
         if self._sign:
-            return Decimal((0, self._int, self._exp))
+            return _dec_from_triple(0, self._int, self._exp, self._is_special)
         else:
-            return Decimal((1, self._int, self._exp))
+            return _dec_from_triple(1, self._int, self._exp, self._is_special)
 
     def copy_sign(self, other):
         """Returns self with the sign of other."""
-        return Decimal((other._sign, self._int, self._exp))
+        return _dec_from_triple(other._sign, self._int,
+                                self._exp, self._is_special)
 
     def exp(self, context=None):
         """Returns e ** self."""
@@ -2730,16 +2744,16 @@
         # larger exponent the result either overflows or underflows.
         if self._sign == 0 and adj > len(str((context.Emax+1)*3)):
             # overflow
-            ans = Decimal((0, (1,), context.Emax+1))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(0, '1', context.Emax+1)
         elif self._sign == 1 and adj > len(str((-context.Etiny()+1)*3)):
             # underflow to 0
-            ans = Decimal((0, (1,), context.Etiny()-1))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(0, '1', context.Etiny()-1)
         elif self._sign == 0 and adj < -p:
             # p+1 digits; final round will raise correct flags
-            ans = Decimal((0, (1,) + (0,)*(p-1) + (1,), -p))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(0, '1' + '0'*(p-1) + '1', -p)
         elif self._sign == 1 and adj < -p-1:
             # p+1 digits; final round will raise correct flags
-            ans = Decimal((0, (9,)*(p+1), -p-1))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(0, '9'*(p+1), -p-1)
         # general case
         else:
             op = _WorkRep(self)
@@ -2757,7 +2771,7 @@
                     break
                 extra += 3
 
-            ans = Decimal((0, list(map(int, str(coeff))), exp))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(0, str(coeff), exp)
 
         # at this stage, ans should round correctly with *any*
         # rounding mode, not just with ROUND_HALF_EVEN
@@ -2822,7 +2836,7 @@
 
     def is_zero(self):
         """Return True if self is a zero; otherwise return False."""
-        return not self._is_special and self._int[0] == 0
+        return not self._is_special and self._int == '0'
 
     def _ln_exp_bound(self):
         """Compute a lower bound for the adjusted exponent of self.ln().
@@ -2891,7 +2905,7 @@
             if coeff % (5*10**(len(str(abs(coeff)))-p-1)):
                 break
             places += 3
-        ans = Decimal((int(coeff<0), list(map(int, str(abs(coeff)))), -places))
+        ans = _dec_from_triple(int(coeff<0), str(abs(coeff)), -places)
 
         context = context._shallow_copy()
         rounding = context._set_rounding(ROUND_HALF_EVEN)
@@ -2954,7 +2968,7 @@
                                         'log10 of a negative value')
 
         # log10(10**n) = n
-        if self._int[0] == 1 and self._int[1:] == (0,)*(len(self._int) - 1):
+        if self._int[0] == '1' and self._int[1:] == '0'*(len(self._int) - 1):
             # answer may need rounding
             ans = Decimal(self._exp + len(self._int) - 1)
         else:
@@ -2972,8 +2986,7 @@
                 if coeff % (5*10**(len(str(abs(coeff)))-p-1)):
                     break
                 places += 3
-            ans = Decimal((int(coeff<0), list(map(int, str(abs(coeff)))),
-                          -places))
+            ans = _dec_from_triple(int(coeff<0), str(abs(coeff)), -places)
 
         context = context._shallow_copy()
         rounding = context._set_rounding(ROUND_HALF_EVEN)
@@ -3020,19 +3033,19 @@
         if self._sign != 0 or self._exp != 0:
             return False
         for dig in self._int:
-            if dig not in (0, 1):
+            if dig not in '01':
                 return False
         return True
 
     def _fill_logical(self, context, opa, opb):
         dif = context.prec - len(opa)
         if dif > 0:
-            opa = (0,)*dif + opa
+            opa = '0'*dif + opa
         elif dif < 0:
             opa = opa[-context.prec:]
         dif = context.prec - len(opb)
         if dif > 0:
-            opb = (0,)*dif + opb
+            opb = '0'*dif + opb
         elif dif < 0:
             opb = opb[-context.prec:]
         return opa, opb
@@ -3048,22 +3061,15 @@
         (opa, opb) = self._fill_logical(context, self._int, other._int)
 
         # make the operation, and clean starting zeroes
-        result = [a&b for a,b in zip(opa,opb)]
-        for i,d in enumerate(result):
-            if d == 1:
-                break
-        result = tuple(result[i:])
-
-        # if empty, we must have at least a zero
-        if not result:
-            result = (0,)
-        return Decimal((0, result, 0))
+        result = "".join([str(int(a)&int(b)) for a,b in zip(opa,opb)])
+        return _dec_from_triple(0, result.lstrip('0') or '0', 0)
 
     def logical_invert(self, context=None):
         """Invert all its digits."""
         if context is None:
             context = getcontext()
-        return self.logical_xor(Decimal((0,(1,)*context.prec,0)), context)
+        return self.logical_xor(_dec_from_triple(0,'1'*context.prec,0),
+                                context)
 
     def logical_or(self, other, context=None):
         """Applies an 'or' operation between self and other's digits."""
@@ -3076,16 +3082,8 @@
         (opa, opb) = self._fill_logical(context, self._int, other._int)
 
         # make the operation, and clean starting zeroes
-        result = [a|b for a,b in zip(opa,opb)]
-        for i,d in enumerate(result):
-            if d == 1:
-                break
-        result = tuple(result[i:])
-
-        # if empty, we must have at least a zero
-        if not result:
-            result = (0,)
-        return Decimal((0, result, 0))
+        result = "".join(str(int(a)|int(b)) for a,b in zip(opa,opb))
+        return _dec_from_triple(0, result.lstrip('0') or '0', 0)
 
     def logical_xor(self, other, context=None):
         """Applies an 'xor' operation between self and other's digits."""
@@ -3098,16 +3096,8 @@
         (opa, opb) = self._fill_logical(context, self._int, other._int)
 
         # make the operation, and clean starting zeroes
-        result = [a^b for a,b in zip(opa,opb)]
-        for i,d in enumerate(result):
-            if d == 1:
-                break
-        result = tuple(result[i:])
-
-        # if empty, we must have at least a zero
-        if not result:
-            result = (0,)
-        return Decimal((0, result, 0))
+        result = "".join(str(int(a)^int(b)) for a,b in zip(opa,opb))
+        return _dec_from_triple(0, result.lstrip('0') or '0', 0)
 
     def max_mag(self, other, context=None):
         """Compares the values numerically with their sign ignored."""
@@ -3185,7 +3175,7 @@
         if self._isinfinity() == -1:
             return negInf
         if self._isinfinity() == 1:
-            return Decimal((0, (9,)*context.prec, context.Etop()))
+            return _dec_from_triple(0, '9'*context.prec, context.Etop())
 
         context = context.copy()
         context._set_rounding(ROUND_FLOOR)
@@ -3193,7 +3183,8 @@
         new_self = self._fix(context)
         if new_self != self:
             return new_self
-        return self.__sub__(Decimal((0, (1,), context.Etiny()-1)), context)
+        return self.__sub__(_dec_from_triple(0, '1', context.Etiny()-1),
+                            context)
 
     def next_plus(self, context=None):
         """Returns the smallest representable number larger than itself."""
@@ -3207,7 +3198,7 @@
         if self._isinfinity() == 1:
             return Inf
         if self._isinfinity() == -1:
-            return Decimal((1, (9,)*context.prec, context.Etop()))
+            return _dec_from_triple(1, '9'*context.prec, context.Etop())
 
         context = context.copy()
         context._set_rounding(ROUND_CEILING)
@@ -3215,7 +3206,8 @@
         new_self = self._fix(context)
         if new_self != self:
             return new_self
-        return self.__add__(Decimal((0, (1,), context.Etiny()-1)), context)
+        return self.__add__(_dec_from_triple(0, '1', context.Etiny()-1),
+                            context)
 
     def next_toward(self, other, context=None):
         """Returns the number closest to self, in the direction towards other.
@@ -3237,7 +3229,7 @@
 
         comparison = self.__cmp__(other)
         if comparison == 0:
-            return Decimal((other._sign, self._int, self._exp))
+            return self.copy_sign(other)
 
         if comparison == -1:
             ans = self.next_plus(context)
@@ -3331,19 +3323,12 @@
         rotdig = self._int
         topad = context.prec - len(rotdig)
         if topad:
-            rotdig = ((0,)*topad) + rotdig
+            rotdig = '0'*topad + rotdig
 
         # let's rotate!
         rotated = rotdig[torot:] + rotdig[:torot]
-
-        # clean starting zeroes
-        for i,d in enumerate(rotated):
-            if d != 0:
-                break
-        rotated = rotated[i:]
-
-        return Decimal((self._sign, rotated, self._exp))
-
+        return _dec_from_triple(self._sign,
+                                rotated.lstrip('0') or '0', self._exp)
 
     def scaleb (self, other, context=None):
         """Returns self operand after adding the second value to its exp."""
@@ -3364,7 +3349,7 @@
         if self._isinfinity():
             return Decimal(self)
 
-        d = Decimal((self._sign, self._int, self._exp + int(other)))
+        d = _dec_from_triple(self._sign, self._int, self._exp + int(other))
         d = d._fix(context)
         return d
 
@@ -3392,26 +3377,17 @@
         rotdig = self._int
         topad = context.prec - len(rotdig)
         if topad:
-            rotdig = ((0,)*topad) + rotdig
+            rotdig = '0'*topad + rotdig
 
         # let's shift!
         if torot < 0:
             rotated = rotdig[:torot]
         else:
-            rotated = (rotdig + ((0,) * torot))
+            rotated = rotdig + '0'*torot
             rotated = rotated[-context.prec:]
 
-        # clean starting zeroes
-        if rotated:
-            for i,d in enumerate(rotated):
-                if d != 0:
-                    break
-            rotated = rotated[i:]
-        else:
-            rotated = (0,)
-
-        return Decimal((self._sign, rotated, self._exp))
-
+        return _dec_from_triple(self._sign,
+                                    rotated.lstrip('0') or '0', self._exp)
 
     # Support for pickling, copy, and deepcopy
     def __reduce__(self):
@@ -3427,6 +3403,22 @@
             return self     # My components are also immutable
         return self.__class__(str(self))
 
+def _dec_from_triple(sign, coefficient, exponent, special=False):
+    """Create a decimal instance directly, without any validation,
+    normalization (e.g. removal of leading zeros) or argument
+    conversion.
+
+    This function is for *internal use only*.
+    """
+
+    self = object.__new__(Decimal)
+    self._sign = sign
+    self._int = coefficient
+    self._exp = exponent
+    self._is_special = special
+
+    return self
+
 ##### Context class #######################################################
 
 
@@ -4775,10 +4767,7 @@
             self.exp = None
         elif isinstance(value, Decimal):
             self.sign = value._sign
-            cum = 0
-            for digit  in value._int:
-                cum = cum * 10 + digit
-            self.int = cum
+            self.int = int(value._int)
             self.exp = value._exp
         else:
             # assert isinstance(value, tuple)
@@ -5175,53 +5164,6 @@
         raise TypeError("Unable to convert %s to Decimal" % other)
     return NotImplemented
 
-_infinity_map = {
-    'inf' : 1,
-    'infinity' : 1,
-    '+inf' : 1,
-    '+infinity' : 1,
-    '-inf' : -1,
-    '-infinity' : -1
-}
-
-def _isinfinity(num):
-    """Determines whether a string or float is infinity.
-
-    +1 for negative infinity; 0 for finite ; +1 for positive infinity
-    """
-    num = str(num).lower()
-    return _infinity_map.get(num, 0)
-
-def _isnan(num):
-    """Determines whether a string or float is NaN
-
-    (1, sign, diagnostic info as string) => NaN
-    (2, sign, diagnostic info as string) => sNaN
-    0 => not a NaN
-    """
-    num = str(num).lower()
-    if not num:
-        return 0
-
-    # Get the sign, get rid of trailing [+-]
-    sign = 0
-    if num[0] == '+':
-        num = num[1:]
-    elif num[0] == '-':  # elif avoids '+-nan'
-        num = num[1:]
-        sign = 1
-
-    if num.startswith('nan'):
-        if len(num) > 3 and not num[3:].isdigit():  # diagnostic info
-            return 0
-        return (1, sign, num[3:].lstrip('0'))
-    if num.startswith('snan'):
-        if len(num) > 4 and not num[4:].isdigit():
-            return 0
-        return (2, sign, num[4:].lstrip('0'))
-    return 0
-
-
 ##### Setup Specific Contexts ############################################
 
 # The default context prototype used by Context()
@@ -5255,6 +5197,47 @@
 )
 
 
+##### crud for parsing strings #############################################
+import re
+
+# Regular expression used for parsing numeric strings.  Additional
+# comments:
+#
+# 1. Uncomment the two '\s*' lines to allow leading and/or trailing
+# whitespace.  But note that the specification disallows whitespace in
+# a numeric string.
+#
+# 2. For finite numbers (not infinities and NaNs) the body of the
+# number between the optional sign and the optional exponent must have
+# at least one decimal digit, possibly after the decimal point.  The
+# lookahead expression '(?=\d|\.\d)' checks this.
+#
+# As the flag UNICODE is not enabled here, we're explicitly avoiding any
+# other meaning for \d than the numbers [0-9].
+
+import re
+_parser = re.compile(r"""     # A numeric string consists of:
+#    \s*
+    (?P<sign>[-+])?           # an optional sign, followed by either...
+    (
+        (?=\d|\.\d)           # ...a number (with at least one digit)
+        (?P<int>\d*)          # consisting of a (possibly empty) integer part
+        (\.(?P<frac>\d*))?    # followed by an optional fractional part
+        (E(?P<exp>[-+]?\d+))? # followed by an optional exponent, or...
+    |
+        Inf(inity)?           # ...an infinity, or...
+    |
+        (?P<signal>s)?        # ...an (optionally signaling)
+        NaN                   # NaN
+        (?P<diag>\d*)         # with (possibly empty) diagnostic information.
+    )
+#    \s*
+    $
+""", re.VERBOSE | re.IGNORECASE).match
+
+del re
+
+
 ##### Useful Constants (internal use only) ################################
 
 # Reusable defaults
@@ -5271,76 +5254,6 @@
 Infsign = (Inf, negInf)
 
 
-##### crud for parsing strings #############################################
-import re
-
-# There's an optional sign at the start, and an optional exponent
-# at the end.  The exponent has an optional sign and at least one
-# digit.  In between, must have either at least one digit followed
-# by an optional fraction, or a decimal point followed by at least
-# one digit.  Yuck.
-
-_parser = re.compile(r"""
-#    \s*
-    (?P<sign>[-+])?
-    (
-        (?P<int>\d+) (\. (?P<frac>\d*))?
-    |
-        \. (?P<onlyfrac>\d+)
-    )
-    ([eE](?P<exp>[-+]? \d+))?
-#    \s*
-    $
-""", re.VERBOSE).match  # Uncomment the \s* to allow leading or trailing spaces.
-
-del re
-
-def _string2exact(s):
-    """Return sign, n, p s.t.
-
-    Float string value == -1**sign * n * 10**p exactly
-    """
-    m = _parser(s)
-    if m is None:
-        raise ValueError("invalid literal for Decimal: %r" % s)
-
-    if m.group('sign') == "-":
-        sign = 1
-    else:
-        sign = 0
-
-    exp = m.group('exp')
-    if exp is None:
-        exp = 0
-    else:
-        exp = int(exp)
-
-    intpart = m.group('int')
-    if intpart is None:
-        intpart = ""
-        fracpart = m.group('onlyfrac')
-    else:
-        fracpart = m.group('frac')
-        if fracpart is None:
-            fracpart = ""
-
-    exp -= len(fracpart)
-
-    mantissa = intpart + fracpart
-    tmp = list(map(int, mantissa))
-    backup = tmp
-    while tmp and tmp[0] == 0:
-        del tmp[0]
-
-    # It's a zero
-    if not tmp:
-        if backup:
-            return (sign, tuple(backup), exp)
-        return (sign, (0,), exp)
-    mantissa = tuple(tmp)
-
-    return (sign, mantissa, exp)
-
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import doctest, sys