First question on extending Python...

[Redefined Horizons]

I still new to Python, and I've only dabbled in C, but I've got my
first project I need to tackle that involves both languages. I was
hoping to get some advice on how to proceed.

There is a third-party application that I need to work with. It is
closed-source, but it exposes a C API. I want to wrap this C API so
that it is available from Python. I have no ability to modify the C
API of the third part application.

Do I the C functions that I wrap in an extensions module for Python
need to be in a certian format? If so, I will have to write an
intermediate DLL in C that wraps the third-party application and
exports the functions in a form that Python can use.

Or can an extension module for Python wrap any C function? If this is
the case I think I can skip the intermediate C DLL.

Are there any advantages to using the intermediate DLL written in C in
this particular case where I will not have ability to manipulate the C
API of the third party application directly? (For example, if the
third-party application developers are willing to call a "call-back"
function that must be written in C, but not Python. Could the same
extension module export both C functions and serve as a Python
module?)

Thanks,

Scott Huey

[John Machin]

On 10/06/2006 8:32 AM, Redefined Horizons wrote:

I still new to Python, and I've only dabbled in C, but I've got my
first project I need to tackle that involves both languages. I was
hoping to get some advice on how to proceed.

There is a third-party application that I need to work with. It is
closed-source, but it exposes a C API. I want to wrap this C API so
that it is available from Python. I have no ability to modify the C
API of the third part application.

Do I the C functions that I wrap in an extensions module for Python
need to be in a certian format?
No.

If so, I will have to write an
intermediate DLL in C that wraps the third-party application and
exports the functions in a form that Python can use.
No way. You need only *one* layer of glue.

Or can an extension module for Python wrap any C function?
I've never heard of a C function that couldn't be wrapped. If there were
such a function, having more C code in a separate DLL wouldn't make it
wrappable.
If this is
the case I think I can skip the intermediate C DLL.
I think so too.

Are there any advantages to using the intermediate DLL written in C in
this particular case where I will not have ability to manipulate the C
API of the third party application directly? (For example, if the
third-party application developers are willing to call a "call-back"
function that must be written in C, but not Python.
No advantages that I can see. Your C call-back function could then call
a Python function if you really wanted to -- the 3rd-party devs don't
need to know :-)
Could the same
extension module export both C functions and serve as a Python
module?)

Yes.

Cheers,
John

[Larry Bates]

Redefined Horizons wrote:

I still new to Python, and I've only dabbled in C, but I've got my
first project I need to tackle that involves both languages. I was
hoping to get some advice on how to proceed.

There is a third-party application that I need to work with. It is
closed-source, but it exposes a C API. I want to wrap this C API so
that it is available from Python. I have no ability to modify the C
API of the third part application.

Do I the C functions that I wrap in an extensions module for Python
need to be in a certian format? If so, I will have to write an
intermediate DLL in C that wraps the third-party application and
exports the functions in a form that Python can use.

Or can an extension module for Python wrap any C function? If this is
the case I think I can skip the intermediate C DLL.

Are there any advantages to using the intermediate DLL written in C in
this particular case where I will not have ability to manipulate the C
API of the third party application directly? (For example, if the
third-party application developers are willing to call a "call-back"
function that must be written in C, but not Python. Could the same
extension module export both C functions and serve as a Python
module?)

Thanks,

Scott Huey

John Machin has answered most of your questions in a separate post. All you
need is to take a look at ctypes module for Python. You can call virtually
any C based API that is stored in a .DLL using ctypes. I've called .DLL
APIs for Castelle's Faxpress, Expervision's OCR toolkit and Softrak's ADS.DLL
with no problems. The trick is creating some functions/classes that help
with the C structures that need to be passed back and forth. For that you
will probably also need to take a look at the Python struct module, but ctypes
has some built-in helper functions also.

ctypes can be located here: http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/ctypes/

-Larry Bates

[Larry Bates]

Redefined Horizons wrote:

I still new to Python, and I've only dabbled in C, but I've got my
first project I need to tackle that involves both languages. I was
hoping to get some advice on how to proceed.

There is a third-party application that I need to work with. It is
closed-source, but it exposes a C API. I want to wrap this C API so
that it is available from Python. I have no ability to modify the C
API of the third part application.

Do I the C functions that I wrap in an extensions module for Python
need to be in a certian format? If so, I will have to write an
intermediate DLL in C that wraps the third-party application and
exports the functions in a form that Python can use.

Or can an extension module for Python wrap any C function? If this is
the case I think I can skip the intermediate C DLL.

Are there any advantages to using the intermediate DLL written in C in
this particular case where I will not have ability to manipulate the C
API of the third party application directly? (For example, if the
third-party application developers are willing to call a "call-back"
function that must be written in C, but not Python. Could the same
extension module export both C functions and serve as a Python
module?)

Thanks,

Scott Huey

John Machin has answered most of your questions in a separate post. All you
need is to take a look at ctypes module for Python. You can call virtually
any C based API that is stored in a .DLL using ctypes. I've called .DLL
APIs for Castelle's Faxpress, Expervision's OCR toolkit and Softrak's ADS.DLL
with no problems. The trick is creating some functions/classes that help
with the C structures that need to be passed back and forth. For that you
will probably also need to take a look at the Python struct module, but ctypes
has some built-in helper functions also.

ctypes can be located here: http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/ctypes/

-Larry Bates

[Cameron Laird]

In article <44**************@websafe.com>,
Larry Bates <la*********@websafe.com> wrote:

Redefined Horizons wrote: