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An oral history of Bank Python (calpaterson.com)

864 points by todsacerdoti · 1782 days ago · 325 comments on HN

Article summary

The article describes Bank Python, a proprietary Python ecosystem used by big investment banks, which differs significantly from the standard Python ecosystem. It features a global database of Python objects called Barbara, a directed acyclic graph of financial instruments called Dagger, a bank-wide job runner called Walpole, and a table library called MnTable. These systems are designed to handle the complex data dependencies and calculations required in investment banking. The article highlights the unique characteristics and trade-offs of Bank Python, including its simplicity, robustness, and ease of deployment, as well as its limitations and challenges.

Main themes

  • Bank Python ecosystem
  • investment banking technology
  • proprietary systems
  • data storage and programming languages
  • array processing languages
  • ease of deployment and simplicity
  • limitations and challenges of Bank Python
  • comparison to other investment bank systems

What commenters say

  • Some commenters find the Bank Python ecosystem to be surprisingly clean and neat compared to other investment bank systems.
  • The use of proprietary systems like Bank Python can make it difficult for new starters to get up to speed and can lead to a divergence from open-source technologies.
  • The integration of data storage and programming languages is a significant challenge, and some commenters argue that databases should be more tightly integrated into programming languages.
  • Others disagree, suggesting that using database libraries or separate databases is a better approach.
  • The Bank Python ecosystem has similarities with other investment bank systems, such as Quartz and Athena.
  • Some commenters appreciate the ease of deployment and simplicity of Bank Python, while others criticize its limitations and potential drawbacks.
  • The use of array processing languages like K and Q is also discussed, with some commenters finding them intriguing and others criticizing their readability and usability.