Reed-Solomon Python Extension Module

Reed-Solomon coding adds efficient redundancy to data streams. It provides an answer to two similar questions: how do you transmit digital data over noisy or lossy channels, and how do you store data on media that is sure to degrade? Reed-Solomon codes generate a configurable number parity bits corresponding with the data bits. On the receiving end, only a portion of the correct data and parity bits is sufficient for recovering all of the original data.

This Python extension module adds Reed-Solomon codes to the Python programmer's toolbox. It is based on Phil Karn's Reed-Solomon library. The library is fast (capable of encoding over 10 MB/s) and the module is easy to use. The extension bundles Phil Karn's library, so no separate download is necessary.

This extension is provided under the GPL because the underlying library is licensed under the GPL. Since the extension has not yet been tested widely, version 0.1 is an alpha release. Please try it out and drop me a line.

Download: reedsolomon-0.1.tar.gz
Released: 15 March 2005
MD5 sum: c91f72dc9736cec24fc5c05f8d35c07d