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Message 127102 - Python tracker

How the conversion from a recursive algorithm to an iterative one works depends on the specific algorithm involved. A trampoline does the job for tail calls, but not necessarily any other recursive algorithm.

Factorial actually has a fairly trivial iterative algorithm, so it isn't a great example for general purpose algorithm conversion:

def factorial(x):
  result = 1
  for i in range(1, x+1):
    result *= i
  return result

I believe having trampoline in functools would end up being something of an attractive nuisance - in cases where it applies, there are probably better, algorithm specific, ways of eliminating a recursive call.