Numpy-discussion threads:

 * [http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=9629046&forum_id=4890 Zeros in strides] started by Sasha
 * [http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum_id=4890 missing array type] started by Alan G Isaac

Related threads:
  * [http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=9628513&forum_id=4890 Learning strides] started by Sasha


After the discussions, Travis decided that allowing arrays with 0-strided arrays actually simplifies the code.  0-strided arrays can be a bit confusing especially when using ufuncs with output arguments that are 0-strided arrays.  But, they behave consistently and understandably.   If a user intentionally performs x.strides = 0,  they should know what they are doing, but it shouldn't be disallowed. 

The function PyArray_CheckStrides is able to ensure that strides won't cause later memory accesses to fail given an available chunk of memory at relative position -offset to numbytes-offset (assuming the array data starts at 0).