Use Cython as Python to C Converter
I have huge Python modules(+8000 lines) .They basically have tons of functions for interacting with a hardware platform via serial port by reading and writing to hardware registers.
They are not numerical algorithms. So application is just reading/writing to hardware registers/memory. I use these libraries to write custom scripts. Eventually, I need to move all these stuff to be run in an embedded processor on my hardware to have finer control, then I just kick off the event from PC and the rest is in hardware.
So I need to convert them to C.If I can have my scripts be converted to C by an automatic tool, that would save me a huge time. This is why I got attracted to Cython. Efficiency is not important my codes are not number crunchers. But generated code should be relatively small to fit in my limited memory (few hundreds of Kilobytes).
Can I use Cython as converter for my custom Python scripts to C? My guess is yes, in which case can I use these .c files to be run in my hardware? My guess is not since I have to have Cython in my hardware as well for them to run. But if just creates some .c files, I can go through and make it standalone since code is not using much of features of Python it just use it as a fast to implement script.
Answer
- Yes, at its core this is what Cython does. But ...
- You don't need Cython, however, you do need
libpython. You may feel like it doesn't use that many Python features, but I think if you try this you'll find it's not true -- you won't be able to separate your program from its dependence onlibpythonwhile still using the Python language.
Another option is PyPy, specifically it's translation toolchain, NOT the PyPy Python interpreter. It lets you translate RPython, a subset of the Python language, into C. If you really aren't using many Python language features or libraries, this may work.
PyPy is mostly known as an alternative Python implementation, but it is also a set of tools for compiling dynamic languages into various forms. This is what allows the PyPy implementation of Python, written in (R)Python, to be compiled to machine code.
If C++ is available, Nuitka is a Python to C++ compiler that works for regular Python, not just RPython (which is what shedskin and PyPy use).