Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter¶

This document describes how to write modules in C or C++ to extend the Pythoninterpreter with new modules. Those modules can define new functions but alsonew object types and their methods. The document also describes how to embedthe Python interpreter in another application, for use as an extension language.Finally, it shows how to compile and link extension modules so that they can beloaded dynamically (at run time) into the interpreter, if the underlyingoperating system supports this feature.

This document assumes basic knowledge about Python. For an informalintroduction to the language, seeThe Python Tutorial.The Python Language Referencegives a more formal definition of the language.The Python Standard Library documentsthe existing object types, functions and modules (both built-in and written inPython) that give the language its wide application range.

For a detailed description of the whole Python/C API, see the separatePython/C API Reference Manual.

• 1. Extending Python with C or C++
  • 1.1. A Simple Example
  • 1.2. Intermezzo: Errors and Exceptions
  • 1.3. Back to the Example
  • 1.4. The Module’s Method Table and Initialization Function
  • 1.5. Compilation and Linkage
  • 1.6. Calling Python Functions from C
  • 1.7. Extracting Parameters in Extension Functions
  • 1.8. Keyword Parameters for Extension Functions
  • 1.9. Building Arbitrary Values
  • 1.10. Reference Counts
  • 1.11. Writing Extensions in C++
  • 1.12. Providing a C API for an Extension Module
• 2. Defining New Types
  • 2.1. The Basics
  • 2.2. Type Methods
• 3. Building C and C++ Extensions with distutils
  • 3.1. Distributing your extension modules
• 4. Building C and C++ Extensions on Windows
  • 4.1. A Cookbook Approach
  • 4.2. Differences Between Unix and Windows
  • 4.3. Using DLLs in Practice
• 5. Embedding Python in Another Application
  • 5.1. Very High Level Embedding
  • 5.2. Beyond Very High Level Embedding: An overview
  • 5.3. Pure Embedding
  • 5.4. Extending Embedded Python
  • 5.5. Embedding Python in C++
  • 5.6. Linking Requirements