c interfacing in 2.5

[Rustom Mody]

I used python extensive 3-5 years back.  Coming back I find some
changes.  Trying to understand whats new and would appreciate any
help/comments/pointers.

Earlier there were basically two options:
SWIG: convenient but inefficient
Native (Extending/Embedding): an efficient way of getting a headache!
(Boost being ignored because not using C++)

Now it seems there are more possibilities:

-- Sip seems to be more efficient than swig and easier than native but
not well documented
-- pyrex could be considered
-- I know someone who uses pygtk to make wrappings

But most interesting is ctype.  I wonder if having ctype in the core
language changes the ease of use of the native wrapping model and
thereby makes sip/swig etc less necessary?

Your views and/or experience appreciated.