[Numpy-discussion] Numpy/Cython Google Summer of Code project idea

[Christopher Barker]

I'm not a pyrex/Cython expert, but....

Joris De Ridder wrote:
> Pyrex is kind of a dialect, so your extension modules would be nor  
> python nor C, but a third language.

correct.

> Is this indeed easier to maintain?  

yes, because while you can write C extensions in C, you need to use the 
quite complex Python/C api, and get all sorts of things like reference 
counting, etc right too -- that is hard.

Also, with Cython, you can quite easily mix Python and C in one place, 
so you truly only need to put the performance intensive bits in Cython 
specific code.

> When you would like to use legacy C code for an extension, would you  
> rewrite it in Cython?

no -- you can call regular old C from Cython, so you can use it to write 
wrappers, too.

> What are Cython's advantages compared to ctypes?

for ctypes, you also avoid the wrapping code, but your C code needs to 
be compiled as a library, and can't use python types directly, which is 
more limiting.

I think Cython is easier for someone not very experienced in C, and no 
harder for someone who is.

-Chris


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Christopher Barker, Ph.D.
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