[IPython-user] "Bus error" on Mac OS X

[Justin C. Walker]

On Jun 29, 2005, at 09:27 , Fernando Perez wrote:

> Hans Fangohr wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I have installed Python 2.3.5 using fink, and then installed
>> ipython-0.6.15 using that. When executing ipython (from /sw/bin/ 
>> ipython),
>> it seems to start okay. However, entering any command such as "1 
>> +1" or
>> "import math"  results in a short delay and then a "Bus error"  
>> message.
>> Any ideas what this could be and how to debug this further?
>>
>
> wow, not the foggiest.  Can anyone enlighten me as to what a 'bus  
> error' is? I've never seen that message on a linux box.

Generally, "Bus Error" is a catch-all term for "some sort of memory  
access problem".  Depending on the platform you are running on, it  
can mean, e.g., an access (usually by pointer) to non-existent  
memory; overwriting stack or other memory; cosmic rays; ...

It us usually, but not always, associated with a bug in the program;  
it can also show up a problem with the hardware (e.g., bad memory),  
but that is less likely.  If you see lots of these, across a bunch of  
different programs, then hardware is suspect.  Otherwise, blame the  
programmer :-}

Cheers,

Justin

--
Justin C. Walker, Curmudgeon at Large
Institute for General Semantics
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