best language for quantiative finance? C, D, Fortran,python etc.

[nononsense]

Quote from stephencrowley:

I've never had a problem calling C/fortran code from java and writing wrapper functions around them. I don't use java arrays for performance reasons, but 1.4+ has direct memory buffers.. blazing fast., just as fast as calling it from python/C/whatever.

Of course you can. This was not my point though. In passing, I was referring to libraries wherein sometimes Fortran runtimes are involved. NO DEED TO WRAP ANYTHING AT ALL in Python calling these libraries.

Look at:
http://www.scipy.org/Topical_Software
Existence of Math & Stat libraries potentially useful in trading has come up in several ET threads.

 

[nononsense]

Quote from teun:

Matlab

OK for those who know nothing else.

 

[nononsense]

PyPy: Where is Python going?

http://codespeak.net/pypy/dist/pypy/doc/architecture.html#mission-statement

http://groups.google.com/group/comp...e?lnk=st&q=pypy&rnum=1&hl=en#1f12601d953bdc7e

 

[nononsense]

Quote from Valdis:

I think you simply mix up quant calculus with strategy programming or (realtime) data analysis. Historically speaking quants price derivatives solving differential equations (all this has its roots in BlackScholes, read Hull&White book to understand who quants are). That's it. Thus matlab is the one of obvious tools, then any other language which is faster than matlab (i.e. you know how to solve equation on paper or in matlab, now you need to develop a fast solver for your traders). If you want to be faster than others on the street, you go for distributed computations on computer clusters and this is where C# / .NET comes into play. Just search the net and you will find a number of companies offering .NET tools for distributed math calculus targeting quantitative finance customers.

As for startegy development and data analysis C# also gains momentum. 1. It's easy to learn and use 2. .NET provides a complete and unified framework for developers - no need to employ third paty libraries 3. it runs compiled code, so it's fast enough to handle real time event processing 4. well, it's event oriented, which is very important for trade automation . You can take a look at www.smartquant.com/quantdeveloper.php for example of complete C# / .NET trading / analysis solution.

Cheers

(1) You badly need to read up a few things on distributed computing, especially if C# / .NET is the only thing you seem to have heard of;
(2) From your smartquant url it would appear that there is nothing special about a "quant". That's what we all seem to be tinkering with. Thank you for clearing up that nasty "quant" question.

 

[Equalizer]

Quote from Valdis:

On another note, I think there is also some level of misundrstanding among top management regarding "quants".

Not just top management. It would appear most on ET as well

 

[Batman28]

hey Valdis thanks for all the info.. interesting stuff.

 

[Old European]

It always amazes me how even a question like this one gives rise to such subjective and emotional replies.

The ideal trader in my mind is a very rational, disciplined and stressless person that doesn't easily get carried away by emotions. Or such traders don't bother to participate in discussions on trader boards or there are only very few traders around with this kind of profile.

Cheers,

Old European

 

[andread]

Disagree respectfully

Quote from Sparohok:

Yes, it can. For example, numerical code in Python can be almost as fast as C code by using array constructs. It all depends on your application.

You are talking about compiled Python, I assume. This could be possible, but I find it hard to believe, at least in the majority of the cases. I couldn't find any benchmark, though.
And what does "almost as fast" mean? 2%? 5? 10?

Quote from Sparohok:


Python is extremely well suited to large project development, indeed better suited than either C or C++. I am speaking from extensive personal experience. Python typically gets much more done per line of code but has fewer bugs.

I can imagine that Python does more per line of code (and how much more?), but that doesn't make it suited to large project development.

Quote from Sparohok:


Incidentally, Python and Ruby are both strongly typed languages. (You seem to have confused dynamic typing with weak typing.) Few people would consider C to be strongly typed, though it does have a semblance of static type safety.

I would say it's mostly a matter of definition. But yes, to use your words I meant that Python is not statically typed. I personally find it very annoying, and I could never use it for complex code.
This is, of course, personal opionion

 

[winter]

Quote from Old European:
It always amazes me how even a question like this one gives rise to such subjective and emotional replies.

It didn't surprise me in the least.

I knew as soon as I saw the title of this thread that the usual suspects were going to come out of the woodwork, prostelize about Python and attack anyone who dared to suggest anything else.

 

[nononsense]

Quote from Equalizer:

Not just top management. It would appear most on ET as well

Let's all conclude then that "quants" doesn't mean anything, except for fuzzy dreaming about money-making. Another footnote for a future edition of "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds".