Cython – Optimising Static Compiler for Python

Cython is an open source optimising static compiler. This means that it can compile normal Python code without changes (with a few exceptions). This is particularly useful with code that’s heavy in maths or runs in tight loops.

Cython is a superset of the Python programming language, designed to give C-like performance with code that is mostly written in Python. Cython is a compiled language that generates CPython extension modules. These extension modules can then be loaded and used by regular Python code using the import statement. Cython makes writing C extensions for the Python language as simple as coding Python code.

Cython is based on the well-known Pyrex, but supports more cutting edge functionality and optimizations.

Features include:

• Write Python code that calls back and forth from and to C or C++ code natively at any point. Cython also has a complete set of declarations for CPython’s C-API.
• Easily tune readable Python code into plain C performance by adding static type declarations. This allows Cython to step out of the dynamic nature of the Python code and generate simpler and faster C code.
• Use combined source code level debugging to find bugs in your Python, Cython and C code. Cython offers an extension for the GNU Debugger that helps users debug Cython code. The Cython debugger comes with a set of commands that support breakpoints, stack inspection, source code listing, stepping, stepping over, etc.
• Interact efficiently with large data sets, e.g. using multi-dimensional NumPy arrays.
• Quickly build your applications within the large, mature and widely used CPython ecosystem.
• Integrate natively with existing code and data from legacy, low-level or high-performance libraries and applications.
• Support for integration with IPython/Jupyter notebooks.

Website: cython.org
Support: Documentation, GitHub, Wiki, FAQ, Mailing List (for users), Mailing List (for developers)
Developer: Stefan Behnel, Robert Bradshaw, Lisandro Dalcín, Mark Florisson, Vitja Makarov, Dag Sverre Seljebotn and many contributors
License: Apache License

Cython is written in Python and C. Learn Python with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

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