[capi-sig] Creating type object dynamically in run-time

[Mateusz Loskot]

On 10 May 2012 14:55, Mateusz Loskot <mateusz at loskot.net> wrote:
> On 10 May 2012 14:01, Stefan Behnel <python_capi at behnel.de> wrote:
>>
>> You can execute any Python code from your C code. Look for the
>> PyRun_*() functions.
>
> Do you mean something similar to this approach?
>
>  /* dynamically generated lengthy class definition */
> const char* c = "class A(object): pass";
>
> PyObject* class_a = PyRun_StringFlags(c, ...);
> PyObject_SetAttrString(module, "A", class_a)

The pseudo-code above is incorrect.
I have come up with the following example of dynamically
generating new Python class, indirectly through script using class keyword.
Such dynamically created class is added to module dictionary:

/* error checks removed for brevity */

static PyModuleDef embmodule = { ... };

PyInit_emb(void)
{
    PyObject* m = PyModule_Create(&embmodule);
    PyObject* d = PyModule_GetDict(m);

    /* Required to allow 'class' use in context of module which is
       not yet complete and ready. Otherwise, error is thrown:
       ImportError: __build_class__ not found
    */
    PyObject* builtins = PyEval_GetBuiltins();
    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "__builtins__", builtins);

    /* Python class is dynamically generated */
    const char* c = "class A(object):\n\tpass"; /* sample class */

    /* Create object for A class, automatically added to the module
dictionary as noddy.A */
    PyRun_StringFlags(c, Py_file_input, d, d, NULL);

    return m;
}

This approach works well.
If anyone noticed a problem or there is better way to do the same,
please let me know.

Best regards,
-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net