Extending python - to swig, not to swig or Cython
You should consider Boost.Python if you are not planning to generate bindings for other languages as well with swig.
If you have a lot of functions and classes to bind, Py++ is a great tool that automatically generates the needed code to make the bindings.
Pybindgen may also be an option, but it's a new project and less complete that Boost.Python.
Edit:
Maybe I need to be more explicit about pro and cons.
Swig:
pro: you can generate bindings for many scripting languages.
cons: I don't like the way the parser works. I don't know if the made some progress but two years ago the C++ parser was quite limited. Most of the time I had to copy/past my .h headers add some
%characters and give extra hints to the swig parser.I was also needed to deal with the Python C-API from time to time for (not so) complicated type conversions.
I'm not using it anymore.
Boost.Python:
pro: It's a very complete library. It allows you to do almost everything that is possible with the C-API, but in C++. I never had to write C-API code with this library. I also never encountered bug due to the library. Code for bindings either works like a charm or refuse compile.
It's probably one of the best solutions currently available if you already have some C++ library to bind. But if you only have a small C function to rewrite, I would probably try with Cython.
cons: if you don't have a pre-compiled Boost.Python library you're going to use Bjam (sort of make replacement). I really hate Bjam and its syntax.
Python libraries created with B.P tend to become obese. It also takes a lot of time to compile them.
Py++ (discontinued): it's Boost.Python made easy. Py++ uses a C++ parser to read your code and then generates Boost.Python code automatically. You also have a great support from its author (no it's not me ;-) ).
cons: only the problems due to Boost.Python itself. Update: As of 2014 this project now looks discontinued.
Pybindgen:
It generates the code dealing with the C-API. You can either describe functions and classes in a Python file, or let Pybindgen read your headers and generate bindings automatically (for this it uses pygccxml, a python library wrote by the author of Py++).
cons: it's a young project, with a smaller team than Boost.Python. There are still some limitations: you cannot use multiple inheritance for your C++ classes, Callbacks (not automatically, custom callback handling code can be written, though). Translation of Python exceptions to C.
It's definitely worth a good look.
A new one: On 2009/01/20 the author of Py++ announced a new package for interfacing C/C++ code with python. It is based on ctypes. I didn't try it already but I will! Note: this project looks discontiued, as Py++.
CFFI: I did not know the existence of this one until very recently so for now I cannot give my opinion. It looks like you can define C functions in Python strings and call them directly from the same Python module.
Cython: This is the method I'm currently using in my projects. Basically you write code in special .pyx files. Those files are compiled (translated) into C code which in turn are compiled to CPython modules. Cython code can look like regular Python (and in fact pure Python are valid .pyx Cython files), but you can also more information like variable types. This optional typing allows Cython to generate faster C code. Code in Cython files can call both pure Python functions but also C and C++ functions (and also C++ methods).
It took me some time to think in Cython, that in the same code call C and C++ function, mix Python and C variables, and so on. But it's a very powerful language, with an active (in 2014) and friendly community.
Using Cython is pretty good. You can write your C extension with a Python-like syntax and have it generate C code. Boilerplate included. Since you have the code already in python, you have to do just a few changes to your bottleneck code and C code will be generated from it.
Example. hello.pyx:
cdef int hello(int a, int b):
return a + b
That generates 601 lines of boilerplate code:
/* Generated by Cython 0.10.3 on Mon Jan 19 08:24:44 2009 */
#define PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN
#include "Python.h"
#include "structmember.h"
#ifndef PY_LONG_LONG
#define PY_LONG_LONG LONG_LONG
#endif
#ifndef DL_EXPORT
#define DL_EXPORT(t) t
#endif
#if PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x02040000
#define METH_COEXIST 0
#endif
#if PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x02050000
typedef int Py_ssize_t;
#define PY_SSIZE_T_MAX INT_MAX
#define PY_SSIZE_T_MIN INT_MIN
#define PyInt_FromSsize_t(z) PyInt_FromLong(z)
#define PyInt_AsSsize_t(o) PyInt_AsLong(o)
#define PyNumber_Index(o) PyNumber_Int(o)
#define PyIndex_Check(o) PyNumber_Check(o)
#endif
#if PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x02060000
#define Py_REFCNT(ob) (((PyObject*)(ob))->ob_refcnt)
#define Py_TYPE(ob) (((PyObject*)(ob))->ob_type)
#define Py_SIZE(ob) (((PyVarObject*)(ob))->ob_size)
#define PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT(type, size) \
PyObject_HEAD_INIT(type) size,
#define PyType_Modified(t)
typedef struct {
void *buf;
PyObject *obj;
Py_ssize_t len;
Py_ssize_t itemsize;
int readonly;
int ndim;
char *format;
Py_ssize_t *shape;
Py_ssize_t *strides;
Py_ssize_t *suboffsets;
void *internal;
} Py_buffer;
#define PyBUF_SIMPLE 0
#define PyBUF_WRITABLE 0x0001
#define PyBUF_LOCK 0x0002
#define PyBUF_FORMAT 0x0004
#define PyBUF_ND 0x0008
#define PyBUF_STRIDES (0x0010 | PyBUF_ND)
#define PyBUF_C_CONTIGUOUS (0x0020 | PyBUF_STRIDES)
#define PyBUF_F_CONTIGUOUS (0x0040 | PyBUF_STRIDES)
#define PyBUF_ANY_CONTIGUOUS (0x0080 | PyBUF_STRIDES)
#define PyBUF_INDIRECT (0x0100 | PyBUF_STRIDES)
#endif
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
#define __Pyx_BUILTIN_MODULE_NAME "__builtin__"
#else
#define __Pyx_BUILTIN_MODULE_NAME "builtins"
#endif
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
#define Py_TPFLAGS_CHECKTYPES 0
#define Py_TPFLAGS_HAVE_INDEX 0
#endif
#if (PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x02060000) || (PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3)
#define Py_TPFLAGS_HAVE_NEWBUFFER 0
#endif
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
#define PyBaseString_Type PyUnicode_Type
#define PyString_Type PyBytes_Type
#define PyInt_Type PyLong_Type
#define PyInt_Check(op) PyLong_Check(op)
#define PyInt_CheckExact(op) PyLong_CheckExact(op)
#define PyInt_FromString PyLong_FromString
#define PyInt_FromUnicode PyLong_FromUnicode
#define PyInt_FromLong PyLong_FromLong
#define PyInt_FromSize_t PyLong_FromSize_t
#define PyInt_FromSsize_t PyLong_FromSsize_t
#define PyInt_AsLong PyLong_AsLong
#define PyInt_AS_LONG PyLong_AS_LONG
#define PyInt_AsSsize_t PyLong_AsSsize_t
#define PyInt_AsUnsignedLongMask PyLong_AsUnsignedLongMask
#define PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLongMask PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLongMask
#define __Pyx_PyNumber_Divide(x,y) PyNumber_TrueDivide(x,y)
#else
#define __Pyx_PyNumber_Divide(x,y) PyNumber_Divide(x,y)
#define PyBytes_Type PyString_Type
#endif
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
#define PyMethod_New(func, self, klass) PyInstanceMethod_New(func)
#endif
#if !defined(WIN32) && !defined(MS_WINDOWS)
#ifndef __stdcall
#define __stdcall
#endif
#ifndef __cdecl
#define __cdecl
#endif
#else
#define _USE_MATH_DEFINES
#endif
#ifdef __cplusplus
#define __PYX_EXTERN_C extern "C"
#else
#define __PYX_EXTERN_C extern
#endif
#include <math.h>
#define __PYX_HAVE_API__helloworld
#ifdef __GNUC__
#define INLINE __inline__
#elif _WIN32
#define INLINE __inline
#else
#define INLINE
#endif
typedef struct
{PyObject **p; char *s; long n;
char is_unicode; char intern; char is_identifier;}
__Pyx_StringTabEntry; /*proto*/
static int __pyx_skip_dispatch = 0;
/* Type Conversion Predeclarations */
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
#define __Pyx_PyBytes_FromString PyString_FromString
#define __Pyx_PyBytes_AsString PyString_AsString
#else
#define __Pyx_PyBytes_FromString PyBytes_FromString
#define __Pyx_PyBytes_AsString PyBytes_AsString
#endif
#define __Pyx_PyBool_FromLong(b) ((b) ? (Py_INCREF(Py_True), Py_True) : (Py_INCREF(Py_False), Py_False))
static INLINE int __Pyx_PyObject_IsTrue(PyObject* x);
static INLINE PY_LONG_LONG __pyx_PyInt_AsLongLong(PyObject* x);
static INLINE unsigned PY_LONG_LONG __pyx_PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLong(PyObject* x);
static INLINE Py_ssize_t __pyx_PyIndex_AsSsize_t(PyObject* b);
#define __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x) (PyInt_CheckExact(x) ? PyInt_AS_LONG(x) : PyInt_AsLong(x))
#define __pyx_PyFloat_AsDouble(x) (PyFloat_CheckExact(x) ? PyFloat_AS_DOUBLE(x) : PyFloat_AsDouble(x))
static INLINE unsigned char __pyx_PyInt_unsigned_char(PyObject* x);
static INLINE unsigned short __pyx_PyInt_unsigned_short(PyObject* x);
static INLINE char __pyx_PyInt_char(PyObject* x);
static INLINE short __pyx_PyInt_short(PyObject* x);
static INLINE int __pyx_PyInt_int(PyObject* x);
static INLINE long __pyx_PyInt_long(PyObject* x);
static INLINE signed char __pyx_PyInt_signed_char(PyObject* x);
static INLINE signed short __pyx_PyInt_signed_short(PyObject* x);
static INLINE signed int __pyx_PyInt_signed_int(PyObject* x);
static INLINE signed long __pyx_PyInt_signed_long(PyObject* x);
static INLINE long double __pyx_PyInt_long_double(PyObject* x);
#ifdef __GNUC__
/* Test for GCC > 2.95 */
#if __GNUC__ > 2 || (__GNUC__ == 2 && (__GNUC_MINOR__ > 95))
#define likely(x) __builtin_expect(!!(x), 1)
#define unlikely(x) __builtin_expect(!!(x), 0)
#else /* __GNUC__ > 2 ... */
#define likely(x) (x)
#define unlikely(x) (x)
#endif /* __GNUC__ > 2 ... */
#else /* __GNUC__ */
#define likely(x) (x)
#define unlikely(x) (x)
#endif /* __GNUC__ */
static PyObject *__pyx_m;
static PyObject *__pyx_b;
static PyObject *__pyx_empty_tuple;
static int __pyx_lineno;
static int __pyx_clineno = 0;
static const char * __pyx_cfilenm= __FILE__;
static const char *__pyx_filename;
static const char **__pyx_f;
static void __Pyx_AddTraceback(const char *funcname); /*proto*/
/* Type declarations */
/* Module declarations from helloworld */
static int __pyx_f_10helloworld_hello(int, int); /*proto*/
/* Implementation of helloworld */
/* "/home/nosklo/devel/ctest/hello.pyx":1
* cdef int hello(int a, int b): # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
* return a + b
*
*/
static int __pyx_f_10helloworld_hello(int __pyx_v_a, int __pyx_v_b) {
int __pyx_r;
/* "/home/nosklo/devel/ctest/hello.pyx":2
* cdef int hello(int a, int b):
* return a + b # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
*
*/
__pyx_r = (__pyx_v_a + __pyx_v_b);
goto __pyx_L0;
__pyx_r = 0;
__pyx_L0:;
return __pyx_r;
}
static struct PyMethodDef __pyx_methods[] = {
{0, 0, 0, 0}
};
static void __pyx_init_filenames(void); /*proto*/
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
static struct PyModuleDef __pyx_moduledef = {
PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
"helloworld",
0, /* m_doc */
-1, /* m_size */
__pyx_methods /* m_methods */,
NULL, /* m_reload */
NULL, /* m_traverse */
NULL, /* m_clear */
NULL /* m_free */
};
#endif
static int __Pyx_InitCachedBuiltins(void) {
return 0;
return -1;
}
static int __Pyx_InitGlobals(void) {
return 0;
return -1;
}
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
PyMODINIT_FUNC inithelloworld(void); /*proto*/
PyMODINIT_FUNC inithelloworld(void)
#else
PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit_helloworld(void); /*proto*/
PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit_helloworld(void)
#endif
{
__pyx_empty_tuple = PyTuple_New(0);
if (unlikely(!__pyx_empty_tuple))
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 1;
__pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
/*--- Library function declarations ---*/
__pyx_init_filenames();
/*--- Initialize various global constants etc. ---*/
if (unlikely(__Pyx_InitGlobals() < 0))
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0];
__pyx_lineno = 1;
__pyx_clineno = __LINE__;
goto __pyx_L1_error;}
/*--- Module creation code ---*/
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
__pyx_m = Py_InitModule4("helloworld", __pyx_methods, 0, 0, PYTHON_API_VERSION);
#else
__pyx_m = PyModule_Create(&__pyx_moduledef);
#endif
if (!__pyx_m)
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0];
__pyx_lineno = 1; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__;
goto __pyx_L1_error;};
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
Py_INCREF(__pyx_m);
#endif
__pyx_b = PyImport_AddModule(__Pyx_BUILTIN_MODULE_NAME);
if (!__pyx_b)
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 1;
__pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;};
if (PyObject_SetAttrString(__pyx_m, "__builtins__", __pyx_b) < 0)
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 1;
__pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;};
/*--- Builtin init code ---*/
if (unlikely(__Pyx_InitCachedBuiltins() < 0))
{__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 1;
__pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
__pyx_skip_dispatch = 0;
/*--- Global init code ---*/
/*--- Function export code ---*/
/*--- Type init code ---*/
/*--- Type import code ---*/
/*--- Function import code ---*/
/*--- Execution code ---*/
/* "/home/nosklo/devel/ctest/hello.pyx":1
* cdef int hello(int a, int b): # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
* return a + b
*
*/
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
return;
#else
return __pyx_m;
#endif
__pyx_L1_error:;
__Pyx_AddTraceback("helloworld");
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
return NULL;
#endif
}
static const char *__pyx_filenames[] = {
"hello.pyx",
};
/* Runtime support code */
static void __pyx_init_filenames(void) {
__pyx_f = __pyx_filenames;
}
#include "compile.h"
#include "frameobject.h"
#include "traceback.h"
static void __Pyx_AddTraceback(const char *funcname) {
PyObject *py_srcfile = 0;
PyObject *py_funcname = 0;
PyObject *py_globals = 0;
PyObject *empty_string = 0;
PyCodeObject *py_code = 0;
PyFrameObject *py_frame = 0;
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
py_srcfile = PyString_FromString(__pyx_filename);
#else
py_srcfile = PyUnicode_FromString(__pyx_filename);
#endif
if (!py_srcfile) goto bad;
if (__pyx_clineno) {
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
py_funcname = PyString_FromFormat( "%s (%s:%d)", funcname,
__pyx_cfilenm, __pyx_clineno);
#else
py_funcname = PyUnicode_FromFormat( "%s (%s:%d)", funcname,
__pyx_cfilenm, __pyx_clineno);
#endif
}
else {
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
py_funcname = PyString_FromString(funcname);
#else
py_funcname = PyUnicode_FromString(funcname);
#endif
}
if (!py_funcname) goto bad;
py_globals = PyModule_GetDict(__pyx_m);
if (!py_globals) goto bad;
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION < 3
empty_string = PyString_FromStringAndSize("", 0);
#else
empty_string = PyBytes_FromStringAndSize("", 0);
#endif
if (!empty_string) goto bad;
py_code = PyCode_New(
0, /*int argcount,*/
#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
0, /*int kwonlyargcount,*/
#endif
0, /*int nlocals,*/
0, /*int stacksize,*/
0, /*int flags,*/
empty_string, /*PyObject *code,*/
__pyx_empty_tuple, /*PyObject *consts,*/
__pyx_empty_tuple, /*PyObject *names,*/
__pyx_empty_tuple, /*PyObject *varnames,*/
__pyx_empty_tuple, /*PyObject *freevars,*/
__pyx_empty_tuple, /*PyObject *cellvars,*/
py_srcfile, /*PyObject *filename,*/
py_funcname, /*PyObject *name,*/
__pyx_lineno, /*int firstlineno,*/
empty_string /*PyObject *lnotab*/
);
if (!py_code) goto bad;
py_frame = PyFrame_New(
PyThreadState_GET(), /*PyThreadState *tstate,*/
py_code, /*PyCodeObject *code,*/
py_globals, /*PyObject *globals,*/
0 /*PyObject *locals*/
);
if (!py_frame) goto bad;
py_frame->f_lineno = __pyx_lineno;
PyTraceBack_Here(py_frame);
bad:
Py_XDECREF(py_srcfile);
Py_XDECREF(py_funcname);
Py_XDECREF(empty_string);
Py_XDECREF(py_code);
Py_XDECREF(py_frame);
}
/* Type Conversion Functions */
static INLINE Py_ssize_t __pyx_PyIndex_AsSsize_t(PyObject* b) {
Py_ssize_t ival;
PyObject* x = PyNumber_Index(b);
if (!x) return -1;
ival = PyInt_AsSsize_t(x);
Py_DECREF(x);
return ival;
}
static INLINE int __Pyx_PyObject_IsTrue(PyObject* x) {
if (x == Py_True) return 1;
else if (x == Py_False) return 0;
else return PyObject_IsTrue(x);
}
static INLINE PY_LONG_LONG __pyx_PyInt_AsLongLong(PyObject* x) {
if (PyInt_CheckExact(x)) {
return PyInt_AS_LONG(x);
}
else if (PyLong_CheckExact(x)) {
return PyLong_AsLongLong(x);
}
else {
PY_LONG_LONG val;
PyObject* tmp = PyNumber_Int(x); if (!tmp) return (PY_LONG_LONG)-1;
val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLongLong(tmp);
Py_DECREF(tmp);
return val;
}
}
static INLINE unsigned PY_LONG_LONG __pyx_PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLong(PyObject* x) {
if (PyInt_CheckExact(x)) {
long val = PyInt_AS_LONG(x);
if (unlikely(val < 0)) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "Negative assignment to unsigned type.");
return (unsigned PY_LONG_LONG)-1;
}
return val;
}
else if (PyLong_CheckExact(x)) {
return PyLong_AsUnsignedLongLong(x);
}
else {
PY_LONG_LONG val;
PyObject* tmp = PyNumber_Int(x); if (!tmp) return (PY_LONG_LONG)-1;
val = __pyx_PyInt_AsUnsignedLongLong(tmp);
Py_DECREF(tmp);
return val;
}
}
static INLINE unsigned char __pyx_PyInt_unsigned_char(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(unsigned char) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
unsigned char val = (unsigned char)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) || (long_val < 0))) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to unsigned char");
return (unsigned char)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE unsigned short __pyx_PyInt_unsigned_short(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(unsigned short) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
unsigned short val = (unsigned short)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) || (long_val < 0))) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to unsigned short");
return (unsigned short)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE char __pyx_PyInt_char(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(char) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
char val = (char)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to char");
return (char)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE short __pyx_PyInt_short(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(short) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
short val = (short)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to short");
return (short)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE int __pyx_PyInt_int(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(int) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
int val = (int)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to int");
return (int)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE long __pyx_PyInt_long(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(long) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
long val = (long)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to long");
return (long)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE signed char __pyx_PyInt_signed_char(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(signed char) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
signed char val = (signed char)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to signed char");
return (signed char)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE signed short __pyx_PyInt_signed_short(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(signed short) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
signed short val = (signed short)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to signed short");
return (signed short)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE signed int __pyx_PyInt_signed_int(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(signed int) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
signed int val = (signed int)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to signed int");
return (signed int)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE signed long __pyx_PyInt_signed_long(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(signed long) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
signed long val = (signed long)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to signed long");
return (signed long)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
static INLINE long double __pyx_PyInt_long_double(PyObject* x) {
if (sizeof(long double) < sizeof(long)) {
long long_val = __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
long double val = (long double)long_val;
if (unlikely((val != long_val) )) {
PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError, "value too large to convert to long double");
return (long double)-1;
}
return val;
}
else {
return __pyx_PyInt_AsLong(x);
}
}
SWIG 2.0.4 has introduced a new -builtin option that improves performance. I did some benchmarking using an example program that does a lot of fast calls to a C++ extension. I built the extension using boost.python, PyBindGen, SIP and SWIG with and without the -builtin option. Here are the results (average of 100 runs):
SWIG with -builtin 2.67s
SIP 2.70s
PyBindGen 2.74s
boost.python 3.07s
SWIG without -builtin 4.65s
SWIG used to be slowest. With the new -builtin option, SWIG seems to be fastest.
For sure you will always have a performance gain doing this by hand, but the gain will be very small compared to the effort required to do this. I don't have any figure to give you but I don't recommend this, because you will need to maintain the interface by hand, and this is not an option if your module is large!
You did the right thing to chose to use a scripting language because you wanted rapid development. This way you've avoided the early optimization syndrome, and now you want to optimize bottleneck parts, great! But if you do the C/python interface by hand you will fall in the early optimization syndrome for sure.
If you want something with less interface code, you can think about creating a dll from your C code, and use that library directly from python with cstruct.
Consider also Cython if you want to use only python code in your program.