I’m glad there is more clarity here. And thanks to Erlend Egeberg Aasland for championing the PR!
—Guido
Hi,
A new Include/README.rst file was just added to document the 3 C API
provided by CPython:
* Include/: Limited C API
* Include/cpython/: CPython implementation details
* Include/internal/: The internal API
I would like to note that *new* public C API functions must no longer
steal references or return borrowed references.
Don't worry, there is no plan to deprecate or remove existing
functions which do that, like PyModule_AddObject() (streal a
reference) or PyDict_GetItem() (return a borrowed reference). The
policy is only to *add* new functions.
IMO for the *internal* C API, it's fine to continue doing that for
best performances.
Moreover, the limited C API must not expose "implementation details".
For example, structure members must not be accessed directly, because
most structures are excluded from the limited C API. A function call
hiding implementation details is usually better.
Here is a copy of the current Include/README.rst file:
The Python C API
================
The C API is divided into three sections:
1. ``Include/``
2. ``Include/cpython/``
3. ``Include/internal/``
Include: Limited API
====================
``Include/``, excluding the ``cpython`` and ``internal`` subdirectories,
contains the public Limited API (Application Programming Interface).
The Limited API is a subset of the C API, designed to guarantee ABI
stability across Python 3 versions, and is defined in :pep:`384`.
Guidelines for expanding the Limited API:
- Functions *must not* steal references
- Functions *must not* return borrowed references
- Functions returning references *must* return a strong reference
- Macros should not expose implementation details
- Please start a public discussion before expanding the API
- Functions or macros with a ``_Py`` prefix do not belong in ``Include/``.
It is possible to add a function or macro to the Limited API from a
given Python version. For example, to add a function to the Limited API
from Python 3.10 and onwards, wrap it with
``#if !defined(Py_LIMITED_API) || Py_LIMITED_API+0 >= 0x030A0000``.
Include/cpython: CPython implementation details
===============================================
``Include/cpython/`` contains the public API that is excluded from the
Limited API and the Stable ABI.
Guidelines for expanding the public API:
- Functions *must not* steal references
- Functions *must not* return borrowed references
- Functions returning references *must* return a strong reference
Include/internal: The internal API
==================================
With PyAPI_FUNC or PyAPI_DATA
-----------------------------
Functions or structures in ``Include/internal/`` defined with
``PyAPI_FUNC`` or ``PyAPI_DATA`` are internal functions which are
exposed only for specific use cases like debuggers and profilers.
With the extern keyword
-----------------------
Functions in ``Include/internal/`` defined with the ``extern`` keyword
*must not and can not* be used outside the CPython code base. Only
built-in stdlib extensions (built with the ``Py_BUILD_CORE_BUILTIN``
macro defined) can use such functions.
When in doubt, new internal C functions should be defined in
``Include/internal`` using the ``extern`` keyword.
Victor
--
Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death.
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--
--Guido (mobile)
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