[sabauma]

While Pixie is implemented in RPython, Pixie code does not run on the Python VM. You can run the Pixie _interpreter_ in the Python VM, since it is valid Python code, but that is markedly different than compiling a language to Python bytecodes.

[nerdponx]

What does Pixie itself actually run on then?

[sabauma]

That depends on how you run Pixie. There are 2 possible cases.

1. Run Pixie atop the Python VM: this is quite slow as there are 2 levels of interpretation. This is mostly used for testing.

2. As a standalone binary: The RPython language includes a translator which targets C. The generated code is reasonably fast (I think the PyPy interpreter without the JIT is within a factor of 2 the CPython VM). The translator is also responsible for generating the JIT compiler for your interpreter, so a well written interpreter can indeed be quite fast, post translation.