Embedding python in C.

Hi all,

Python is developing now a days. So as a developer we have to change based on the technology.

Now i am going to explain about how we can compile the python programs with(in) c.

Example python program:

addition.py

def add(a,b):
    c=a+b
    print "You did it and Added result is ..",c


And my C program:

samlepython.c

#include <Python.h>
#include <stdio.h>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  Py_SetProgramName(argv[0]);  /* optional but recommended */
  Py_Initialize();
  PyRun_SimpleString("import addition\naddition.add(4, 2)\n");  /* here we are calling the python                                                                                                                                                 things */
  Py_Finalize();
  return 0;
}


Now you have to compile your c program:

gcc samlepython.c -o sample_python

it will show the following error:
"mainpgm.c:1:20: fatal error: Python.h: No such file or directory"

For this you have add your python installed location to your gcc.

gcc -I/usr/include/python2.7 -lpython2.7 samplepython.c -o sample_python

now it compiled and if you are running the ./sample_python means; you will get the foollowing error.

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named addition

It means the program is not able to find the imported "addition" location. for this you have to add the path folder to PYTHONPATH variable.

Suppose i stored my program under the /home/cool/docs/

export PYTHONPATH="/home/cool/docs/"

then again compile and once again run your program,

Output:

You did it and Added result is .. 6

Yeah you compiled your python program with c. Congratz...:)

Regards,

cooldharma06..:)