[pylucene-dev] customizing java classes in python -- performance?

[Mike Klaas]

I'm currently investigating using PyLucene for a large scale
distributed search application which is currently in 95% python with a
smattering of c/pyrex for performance.  I'm rather impressed with the
package, particularly the ability to "subclass" certain lucene classes
to provide customization hooks.

I was curious if anyone has done heavy-duty lifting using these
reverse bindings.  In particulary, I am concerned with subclasses
which are tightly coupled with the core lucene query code -- like
SortComparator.  Does the repeated python<->CNI boundary crossing
degrade performance unacceptably?  Has anyone had success implementing
these sorts of customizations java-side, recompiling the whole package
with gcj?

Thanks in advance,
-MIke Klaas