How can I create a C extension for Python?

How can I create a C extension for Python?

To create a C extension for Python, you'll need to write your C code, create a setup.py file, and use the Python C API.

What tools do I need to compile the C extension?

You'll need a C compiler like GCC, and the Python development headers installed on your system.

Can you provide a simple example of a C extension?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

#include <Python.h>

static PyObject* my_function(PyObject* self, PyObject* args) {
    return Py_BuildValue("s", "Hello from C!");
}

static PyMethodDef MyMethods[] = {
    {"my_function", my_function, METH_VARARGS, "Returns a greeting"},
    {NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}
};

static struct PyModuleDef mymodule = {
    PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
    "mymodule",
    NULL,
    -1,
    MyMethods
};

PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit_mymodule(void) {
    return PyModule_Create(&mymodule);
}

How do I build and install the extension?

You can build it by running python setup.py build and install it using python setup.py install.