Python and C

[diffuser78@gmail.com]

I was a C Programmer for a while. Lately started to learn Python for
one small project at school. I joined a small company where they use
C++ for development.

Can we use Python and C together ? I mean create some classes in Python
and some number crunching algorithms coded in C (for speed) and
integreate both of them.

Could somebody just show a real small example or give pointers to the
same.

Thanks

[Diez B. Roggisch]

Re: Python and C

diffuser78@gmai l.com wrote:
[color=blue]
> I was a C Programmer for a while. Lately started to learn Python for
> one small project at school. I joined a small company where they use
> C++ for development.
>
> Can we use Python and C together ? I mean create some classes in Python
> and some number crunching algorithms coded in C (for speed) and
> integreate both of them.
>
> Could somebody just show a real small example or give pointers to the
> same.[/color]

There is even a whole section in the documentation geared towards that -
and to spoil the fun of actually reading it: Yes, Python and C go aleong
_very_ well, and for C++ there are several specialized wrapping generators
that e.g. make PyQt go round. Check out SIP or boost.python or SWIG.

http://docs.python.org/api/api.html

Diez

[Diez B. Roggisch]

Re: Python and C

> http://docs.python.org/api/api.html


That should have been

http://docs.python.org/ext/ext.html

but you need the other one sooner or later.

Diez

[Alex Martelli]

Re: Python and C

<diffuser78@gma il.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I was a C Programmer for a while. Lately started to learn Python for
> one small project at school. I joined a small company where they use
> C++ for development.
>
> Can we use Python and C together ? I mean create some classes in Python
> and some number crunching algorithms coded in C (for speed) and
> integreate both of them.[/color]

Sure! It's extremely common practice, known as "extending Python".

[color=blue]
> Could somebody just show a real small example or give pointers to the
> same.[/color]

Besides the Extending/Embedding and C API documents which are part of
the standard set of Python docs, to which you've already been pointed in
other responses, you can find tutorials on the net. A tiny one is at
<http://www.developer.c om/lang/other/article.php/2191421>, with pointers
to other materials. Also, examples can be found in the Demos directory
of the Python source distribution -- even if you have a binary distro
installed, get the source distro anyway, it's full of goodies and you
can use much of Python itself as an example of Extending (the Modules
and Objects directories of the source distro, in particular, are just
such examples).

C is the lowest, most fundamental level of extension, but there are many
other alternatives -- SWIG to wrap existing libraries, Boost or SCXX or
SIP to wrap specifically C++ with very different philosophies (template
heavy, minimal, Qt-based), pyrex (a Python "dialect" plus C-like
declarations to make it compilable to fast machine code), and others
yet.


Alex

[David Boddie]

Re: Python and C

Alex Martelli wrote:[color=blue]
> <diffuser78@gma il.com> wrote:[/color]
[color=blue]
> C is the lowest, most fundamental level of extension, but there are many
> other alternatives -- SWIG to wrap existing libraries, Boost or SCXX or
> SIP to wrap specifically C++ with very different philosophies (template
> heavy, minimal, Qt-based), pyrex (a Python "dialect" plus C-like
> declarations to make it compilable to fast machine code), and others
> yet.[/color]

It is a common misconception that SIP is only really used to wrap
Qt-based libraries, though that may be its main use in many projects:

"SIP is a tool that makes it very easy to create Python bindings
for C and C++ libraries. It was originally developed to create PyQt,
the Python bindings for the Qt toolkit, but can be used to create
bindings for any C or C++ library."

[http://www.riverbankcomputing.co.uk/sip/]

David

[P Boy]

Re: Python and C

I have written some C extension before but it was pretty tedious. I
have recently found another approach by using ctypes
(http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/ctypes/). Which you develop
your C module in dynamic library (DLL in Windows world), the from
Python, you can call the C functions in the DLL using ctypes.

I have a library from Microsoft, ewfapi.dll, ewfapi.lib (not required),
and ewfapi.h (see download) which I want to program the EWF capability
in Windows XP Embedded. I was thinking about writing a Python C
extension for it, but using ctypes is much easier. I only need to
redefine some data structures from the header file, and not worry about
common C tasks such as memory management, reference counting, etc.

Ewfapi files can be downloaded from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

I have some sample usage in Python shown below, which I can
interactively control the EWF feature using Python shell (in an XP
embedded machine).


# ewf.py

import ctypes
import string

# These are the functions from the EWF API
##EwfMgrGetDriv eLetterFromVolu meName(volumeNa me)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameListIsEmpty( volumeEntry)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameEntryPop(vol umeEntry)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameListDelete
##
##EwfMgrOpenPro tected
##
##EwfMgrClose = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rClose
##
##EwfMgrClearCo mmand = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rClearCommand
##
##EwfMgrSetPers istentData = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rSetPersistentD ata
##
##EwfMgrGetPers istentData = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetPersistentD ata
##
##EwfMgrCheckpo int = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCheckpoint
##
##EwfMgrRestore = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rRestore
##
##EwfMgrDisable = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rDisable
##
##EwfMgrEnable = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rEnable
##
##EwfMgrCommit = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommit
##
##EwfMgrCommitA ndDisableLive = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommitAndDisab leLive
##
##EwfMgrCommitF ile = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommitFile
##
##EwfMgrSetLeve l = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rSetLevel
##
##EwfMgrGetProt ectedVolumeConf ig =
_ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetProtectedVo lumeConfig
##
##EwfMgrGetProt ectedVolumeList = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetProtectedVo lumeList
##
##EwfMgrOpenOve rlayStore = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rOpenOverlaySto re
##
##EwfMgrGetOver layStoreConfig = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetOverlayStor eConfig
##
##EwfMgrRegiste rLowSpaceNotifi cation =
_ewfapiPy.EwfMg rRegisterLowSpa ceNotification

# Short handle to the API
ewfapi = ctypes.windll.e wfapi

# Data structure from EWFAPI.h translated into Python

# Map these enumerations to string
EWF_CMD = { 0 : 'NO Command',
1 : 'Enable',
2 : 'Disable',
3 : 'Set Level',
4 : 'Commit',
}

EWF_STATE = { 0 : 'Enabled',
1 : 'Disabled',
}

EWF_TYPE = { 0 : 'Disk',
1 : 'RAM',
2 : 'RAM Reg',
}

# Forward Declaration
pVolumeNameEntr y = ctypes.POINTER( 'VolumeNameEntr y')

# Structure of a linked-list
class VolumeNameEntry (ctypes.Structu re):
_fields_ = [('Next', ctypes.POINTER( pVolumeNameEntr y)),
('Name', ctypes.c_wchar * 256),
]

# Set the pointer to the structure
ctypes.SetPoint erType(pVolumeN ameEntry, VolumeNameEntry )


# Volume descriptor
class VolumeDesc(ctyp es.Structure):
_fields_ = [('DeviceName', ctypes.c_wchar * 256),
('VolumeID', ctypes.c_ubyte * 16),
]

pVolumeDesc = ctypes.POINTER( VolumeDesc)


# Overlay configuration
class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
_fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('NumSegments', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('FreeSegments' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('SegmentSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('NumVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
('VolumeDescArr ay', pVolumeDesc),
]

pOverlayStoreCo nfig = ctypes.POINTER( OverlayStoreCon fig)

class Command(ctypes. Structure):
_fields_ = [('Command', ctypes.c_int),
('Param1', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('Param2', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
]

pCommand = ctypes.POINTER( Command)

class FileTime(ctypes .Structure):
_fields_ = [('LowDateTime', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('HighDateTime' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
]

pFileTime = ctypes.POINTER( FileTime)

class LevelDesc(ctype s.Structure):
_fields_ = [('LevelName', ctypes.c_wchar * 64),
('LevelEndTime' , FileTime),
('LevelDataSize ', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
]

pLevelDesc = ctypes.POINTER( LevelDesc)


class VolumeConfig(ct ypes.Structure) :
_fields_ = [('Type', ctypes.c_int),
('State', ctypes.c_int),
('BootCommand', Command),
('PersistentDat a', ctypes.c_ubyte * 32),
('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
('ClumpSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('CurrentLevel' , ctypes.c_ushort ),
('DiskMap_RamDa taSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('DiskDataSize' , ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('MemMapSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('VolumeDesc', VolumeDesc),
('LevelDescArra y', pLevelDesc),
]

def formatUnsigned( u):
return '%02X' % u

def unsignedArrayTo Hex(array):
return string.join(map (formatUnsigned , array)).replace (' ','')

def displayVolumeCo nfiguration(con fig, drive):
config_type = EWF_TYPE[config.Type]
print 'Type : %s' % config_type
print 'State : %s' % EWF_STATE[config.State]
print 'Boot Cmd : %s' % EWF_CMD[config.BootComm and.Command]
print 'Param 1 : %u' % config.BootComm and.Param1
print 'Param 2 : %u' % config.BootComm and.Param2
print 'Persistent Data: %s' %
unsignedArrayTo Hex(config.Pers istentData)
print
print 'Maximum Levels : %u' % config.MaxLevel s
print 'Clump Size : %u Bytes' % config.ClumpSiz e
print 'Current Level : %u' % config.CurrentL evel
if config_type == 'Disk':
print 'Disk Map Size : %u Bytes' %
config.DiskMap_ RamDataSize
print 'Disk Data Size : %u Bytes' % config.DiskData Size
else:
print 'RAM Data Size : %u Bytes' %
config.DiskMap_ RamDataSize

print 'Memory Map Size : %u Bytes' % config.MemMapSi ze
print 'Device Name : %s' % config.VolumeDe sc.DeviceName
print 'Volume ID : %s' %
unsignedArrayTo Hex(config.Volu meDesc.VolumeID )
print 'Drive : %s' % drive

def information():
# Get the pointer and convert to linked-list node
volume_list =
VolumeNameEntry .from_address(e wfapi.EwfMgrGet ProtectedVolume List())
while 1:
drive =
chr(ewfapi.EwfM grGetDriveLette rFromVolumeName (volume_list.Na me))
print '%s: = %s' % (drive, volume_list.Nam e)
handle = ewfapi.EwfMgrOp enProtected(vol ume_list.Name)
config =
VolumeConfig.fr om_address(ewfa pi.EwfMgrGetPro tectedVolumeCon fig(handle))
displayVolumeCo nfiguration(con fig, drive)
if
ewfapi.EwfMgrVo lumeNameListIsE mpty(ctypes.c_v oid_p.from_addr ess(ctypes.addr essof(volume_li st))):
break


if __name__ == "__main__ ":
print 'Running'
information()

[P Boy]

Re: Python and C

I have written some C extension before but it was pretty tedious. I
have recently found another approach by using ctypes
(http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/ctypes/). Which you develop
your C module in dynamic library (DLL in Windows world), the from
Python, you can call the C functions in the DLL using ctypes.

I have a library from Microsoft, ewfapi.dll, ewfapi.lib (not required),
and ewfapi.h (from msdn.com) which I want to program the EWF capability
in Windows XP Embedded. I was thinking about writing a Python C
extension for it, but using ctypes is much easier. I only need to
redefine some data structures from the header file, and not worry about
common C tasks such as memory management, reference counting, etc.


I have some sample usage in Python shown below, which I can
interactively control the EWF feature using Python shell (in an XP
embedded machine).


# ewf.py


import ctypes
import string


# These are the functions from the EWF API
##EwfMgrGetDriv eLetterFromVolu meName(volumeNa me)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameListIsEmpty( volumeEntry)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameEntryPop(vol umeEntry)
##
##EwfMgrVolumeN ameListDelete
##
##EwfMgrOpenPro tected
##
##EwfMgrClose = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rClose
##
##EwfMgrClearCo mmand = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rClearCommand
##
##EwfMgrSetPers istentData = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rSetPersistentD ata
##
##EwfMgrGetPers istentData = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetPersistentD ata
##
##EwfMgrCheckpo int = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCheckpoint
##
##EwfMgrRestore = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rRestore
##
##EwfMgrDisable = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rDisable
##
##EwfMgrEnable = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rEnable
##
##EwfMgrCommit = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommit
##
##EwfMgrCommitA ndDisableLive = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommitAndDisab leLive
##
##EwfMgrCommitF ile = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rCommitFile
##
##EwfMgrSetLeve l = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rSetLevel
##
##EwfMgrGetProt ectedVolumeConf ig =
_ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetProtectedVo lumeConfig
##
##EwfMgrGetProt ectedVolumeList = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetProtectedVo lumeList

##
##EwfMgrOpenOve rlayStore = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rOpenOverlaySto re
##
##EwfMgrGetOver layStoreConfig = _ewfapiPy.EwfMg rGetOverlayStor eConfig
##
##EwfMgrRegiste rLowSpaceNotifi cation =
_ewfapiPy.EwfMg rRegisterLowSpa ceNotification


# Short handle to the API
ewfapi = ctypes.windll.e wfapi


# Data structure from EWFAPI.h translated into Python


# Map these enumerations to string
EWF_CMD = { 0 : 'NO Command',
1 : 'Enable',
2 : 'Disable',
3 : 'Set Level',
4 : 'Commit',
}


EWF_STATE = { 0 : 'Enabled',
1 : 'Disabled',
}


EWF_TYPE = { 0 : 'Disk',
1 : 'RAM',
2 : 'RAM Reg',
}


# Forward Declaration
pVolumeNameEntr y = ctypes.POINTER( 'VolumeNameEntr y')


# Structure of a linked-list
class VolumeNameEntry (ctypes.Structu re):
_fields_ = [('Next', ctypes.POINTER( pVolumeNameEntr y)),
('Name', ctypes.c_wchar * 256),
]


# Set the pointer to the structure
ctypes.SetPoint erType(pVolumeN ameEntry, VolumeNameEntry )


# Volume descriptor
class VolumeDesc(ctyp es.Structure):
_fields_ = [('DeviceName', ctypes.c_wchar * 256),
('VolumeID', ctypes.c_ubyte * 16),
]


pVolumeDesc = ctypes.POINTER( VolumeDesc)


# Overlay configuration
class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
_fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('NumSegments', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('FreeSegments' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('SegmentSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('NumVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
('VolumeDescArr ay', pVolumeDesc),
]


pOverlayStoreCo nfig = ctypes.POINTER( OverlayStoreCon fig)


class Command(ctypes. Structure):
_fields_ = [('Command', ctypes.c_int),
('Param1', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('Param2', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
]


pCommand = ctypes.POINTER( Command)


class FileTime(ctypes .Structure):
_fields_ = [('LowDateTime', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('HighDateTime' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
]


pFileTime = ctypes.POINTER( FileTime)


class LevelDesc(ctype s.Structure):
_fields_ = [('LevelName', ctypes.c_wchar * 64),
('LevelEndTime' , FileTime),
('LevelDataSize ', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
]


pLevelDesc = ctypes.POINTER( LevelDesc)


class VolumeConfig(ct ypes.Structure) :
_fields_ = [('Type', ctypes.c_int),
('State', ctypes.c_int),
('BootCommand', Command),
('PersistentDat a', ctypes.c_ubyte * 32),
('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
('ClumpSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('CurrentLevel' , ctypes.c_ushort ),
('DiskMap_RamDa taSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('DiskDataSize' , ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('MemMapSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('VolumeDesc', VolumeDesc),
('LevelDescArra y', pLevelDesc),
]


def formatUnsigned( u):
return '%02X' % u


def unsignedArrayTo Hex(array):
return string.join(map (formatUnsigned , array)).replace (' ','')


def displayVolumeCo nfiguration(con fig, drive):
config_type = EWF_TYPE[config.Type]
print 'Type : %s' % config_type
print 'State : %s' % EWF_STATE[config.State]
print 'Boot Cmd : %s' % EWF_CMD[config.BootComm and.Command]
print 'Param 1 : %u' % config.BootComm and.Param1
print 'Param 2 : %u' % config.BootComm and.Param2
print 'Persistent Data: %s' %
unsignedArrayTo Hex(config.Pers istentData)
print
print 'Maximum Levels : %u' % config.MaxLevel s
print 'Clump Size : %u Bytes' % config.ClumpSiz e
print 'Current Level : %u' % config.CurrentL evel
if config_type == 'Disk':
print 'Disk Map Size : %u Bytes' %
config.DiskMap_ RamDataSize
print 'Disk Data Size : %u Bytes' % config.DiskData Size
else:
print 'RAM Data Size : %u Bytes' %
config.DiskMap_ RamDataSize


print 'Memory Map Size : %u Bytes' % config.MemMapSi ze
print 'Device Name : %s' % config.VolumeDe sc.DeviceName
print 'Volume ID : %s' %
unsignedArrayTo Hex(config.Volu meDesc.VolumeID )
print 'Drive : %s' % drive


def information():
# Get the pointer and convert to linked-list node
volume_list =
VolumeNameEntry .from_address(e wfapi.EwfMgrGet ProtectedVolume List())
while 1:
drive =
chr(ewfapi.EwfM grGetDriveLette rFromVolumeName (volume_list.Na me))
print '%s: = %s' % (drive, volume_list.Nam e)
handle = ewfapi.EwfMgrOp enProtected(vol ume_list.Name)
config =
VolumeConfig.fr om_address(ewfa pi.EwfMgrGetPro tectedVolumeCon fig(handle))

displayVolumeCo nfiguration(con fig, drive)
if
ewfapi.EwfMgrVo lumeNameListIsE mpty(ctypes.c_v oid_p.from_addr ess(ctypes.addr essof(volume_l ist))):

break


if __name__ == "__main__ ":
print 'Running'
information()

[Terry Reedy]

Re: Python and C


"P Boy" <prettyboy988-google@yahoo.co m> wrote in message
news:1142028064 .100012.256170@ v46g2000cwv.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=blue]
> I have recently found another approach by using ctypes[/color]
(http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/ctypes/).

Ctypes is now a 2.5 standard lib module and in being tested as such on
multiple systems.
[color=blue]
> I have a library from Microsoft, ewfapi.dll, ewfapi.lib (not required),[/color]
and ewfapi.h (from msdn.com)

Has anyone yet written a program to grab C struct declaration from the .h
to produce code like

# Overlay configuration
class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
_fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
('NumSegments', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('FreeSegments' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('SegmentSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('NumVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
('VolumeDescArr ay', pVolumeDesc),
]
?
Would save tedium and errors and make ctypes even more helpful.

Terry Jan Reedy

[Alex Martelli]

Re: Python and C

David Boddie <davidb@mcs.s t-and.ac.uk> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Alex Martelli wrote:[color=green]
> > <diffuser78@gma il.com> wrote:[/color]
>[color=green]
> > C is the lowest, most fundamental level of extension, but there are many
> > other alternatives -- SWIG to wrap existing libraries, Boost or SCXX or
> > SIP to wrap specifically C++ with very different philosophies (template
> > heavy, minimal, Qt-based), pyrex (a Python "dialect" plus C-like
> > declarations to make it compilable to fast machine code), and others
> > yet.[/color]
>
> It is a common misconception that SIP is only really used to wrap
> Qt-based libraries, though that may be its main use in many projects:
>
> "SIP is a tool that makes it very easy to create Python bindings
> for C and C++ libraries. It was originally developed to create PyQt,
> the Python bindings for the Qt toolkit, but can be used to create
> bindings for any C or C++ library."[/color]

Ah, I see that SIP 4 is much better -- I was more experienced with 3.*,
which, what between lack of docs, no support for C, etc, was less
suitable for such a general role. If SIP 4 can be installed quite
independently of Qt, then it's indeed grown to the stature you mention.


Alex

[P Boy]

Re: Python and C

> Has anyone yet written a program to grab C struct declaration from the .h[color=blue]
> to produce code like
>
> # Overlay configuration
> class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
> _fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),
> ('NumSegments', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('FreeSegments' , ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('SegmentSize', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('MaxVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('NumVolumes', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
> ('MaxLevels', ctypes.c_ushort ),
> ('VolumeDescArr ay', pVolumeDesc),
> ]
> ?[/color]

http://starship.python.net/crew/thel...s/codegen.html says it can
be done. However, it requires MSVC 7.1 and I have not yet install it
since I already have MSVC (6,7,8) on my PC.

My header file is relatively small. The manual translation exercise
also allowed me to understand more details about ctypes.

[Terry Reedy]

Re: Python and C


"P Boy" <prettyboy988-google@yahoo.co m> wrote in message
news:1142047621 .068618.176350@ j52g2000cwj.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=blue][color=green]
>> Has anyone yet written a program to grab C struct declaration from the
>> .h
>> to produce code like
>>
>> # Overlay configuration
>> class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
>> _fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
>> ('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),[/color][/color]
etc[color=blue]
>
> http://starship.python.net/crew/thel...s/codegen.html says it can
> be done. However, it requires MSVC 7.1 and I have not yet install it
> since I already have MSVC (6,7,8) on my PC.[/color]

Or vc6. Neither of which most people have, especially those not using Swig
because they don't do C. Ok, we need program entirely in Python. Possible
exercise for someone.
[color=blue]
> My header file is relatively small. The manual translation exercise
> also allowed me to understand more details about ctypes.[/color]

Sure, the first time I would do such also.

tjr

[Thomas Heller]

Re: Python and C

Terry Reedy wrote:[color=blue]
> "P Boy" <prettyboy988-google@yahoo.co m> wrote in message
> news:1142047621 .068618.176350@ j52g2000cwj.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> Has anyone yet written a program to grab C struct declaration from the
>>> .h
>>> to produce code like
>>>
>>> # Overlay configuration
>>> class OverlayStoreCon fig(ctypes.Stru cture):
>>> _fields_ = [('FormatVersion ', ctypes.c_ulong) ,
>>> ('VolumeSize', ctypes.c_longlo ng),[/color][/color]
> etc[color=green]
>> http://starship.python.net/crew/thel...s/codegen.html says it can
>> be done. However, it requires MSVC 7.1 and I have not yet install it
>> since I already have MSVC (6,7,8) on my PC.[/color]
>
> Or vc6. Neither of which most people have, especially those not using Swig
> because they don't do C. Ok, we need program entirely in Python. Possible
> exercise for someone.
>[/color]

Alan Green apparently has got it to work with the free vctoolkit:

http://cardboard.nu/blog/2005_07_14/ctypes_code_generator_for_chea.html

Thomas