stmsy / c2py

Sample scripts for SWIG, Cython and ctypes to use C programs as Python modules.

Sample Python Binding Project

Requirements

• pyenv
• pyenv-virtualenv
• SWIG
• Cython

Create a Python virtual environment named c2py with pyenv and pyenv-virtualenv before you start working with SWIG and Cython. For example, run the following

pyenv install 3.7.2
pyenv virtualenv 3.7.2 c2py
pyenv local c2py  # Run the command at the project root directory

and you may opt to install the packages listed in requirements.txt as follows.

pip install -U pip  # Optional
pip install -r requirements.txt

Usage

SWIG

cd swig
swig -python sample.i  # sample_wrap.c will be generated
python setup.py build_ext
python setup.py install --prefix=$PYENV_VIRTUAL_ENV

Cython

cd cython
swig -python sample.i  # fib_wrap.c will be generated
python setup.py build_ext
python setup.py install --prefix=$PYENV_VIRTUAL_ENV

ctypes

cd ctypes
gcc -shared -o libdample.so sample.c

and use the Python interactive shell like IPython

from ctypes import cdll
libc = cdll.LoadLibrary('libsample.so')

References

• Distributing Python Modules (Legacy version)
• HOWTO: Install your own python modules