[C++-sig] Re: Presenting a Python embedding tutorial for Boost.Python
Dirk Gerrits
dirk at gerrits.homeip.net
Mon Dec 9 08:42:30 CET 2002
David Abrahams wrote:
> Dirk Gerrits <dirk at gerrits.homeip.net> writes:
>
>
>>David Abrahams wrote:
>>
>>>Dirk Gerrits <dirk at gerrits.homeip.net> writes:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I've finally finished the first draft of the embedding tutorial I was
>>>>writing for Boost.Python. I guess I underestimated the task, because
>>>>it took several days longer than I anticipated, but here it is:
>>>>
>>>>http://cvs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/*checkout*/boost-sandbox/boost-sandbox/libs/python/doc/tutorial/doc/embedding.html
>>>>
>>>>Note that I am neither an experienced writer, nor an experienced
>>>>Pythoneer. Any and all proof reading will be greatly appreciated.
>>>
>>>Thanks very much for your efforts!
>>
>>Your welcome. I'm just glad I can help a great library become even
>>better. :)
>
>
> Many <g>s!
>
>
>>>I have several high-level remarks:
>>>1. Why spend so much time discussing manual reference-counting, if we
>>> have a better solution?
>>
>>Good point. At the time, I felt it was necessary to understand this
>>to understand the difference between 'borrowed' and 'new'. On
>>retrospect, I suppose this is not really necessary.
>
>
> I don't know, maybe it is neccessary. It depends on whether you think
> your audience understands how to use the Python 'C' API or not. If
> you think many don't, it might be best to write a separate tutorial
> section on how to use handle<>. I know, the project is growing ;-)
> OTOH you've already written much of it.
>
>>>2. I notice no use of handle_exception(). Boost.Python code can throw
>>> C++ exceptions which correspond to Python exceptions (e.g. when
>>> initializing a handle<> from a null pointer), and
>>> handle_exception() will translate these back into Python
>>> exceptions... which can finally be printed on the console or
>>> wherever else you think is appropriate
>>
>>Well I guess that is because I haven't studied Boost.Python's
>>exception facilities in much detail myself. But I agree that this
>>would make a good addition. And a description of null_ok would
>>probably be appropriate too.
>
>
> That part should go in the handle<> tutorial ;-)
>
>>>3. It was always my intention to help people avoid touching PyObject*s
>>> and the Python 'C' API at all. Are there any obvious C++
>>> interfaces that should be added to the library to wrap the
>>> boilerplate use of the Python 'C' API I see in your examples?
>>
>>A noble goal. :) And you've already got dict, list, long, numeric,
>>object, str, tuple which covers a great deal of ground. My PyTuple_
>>examples are perhaps ill-chosen because python::tuple can do this much
>>easier
>
>
> Yes, it really would be best to avoid touching PyTuple_xxx directly.
Agreed.
>>, but I didn't know what else to demonstrate there.
>
>
> I also confess to not having any idea what piece of code you're
> talking about ;-)
The two code examples in the manual reference counting section. ;)
> See also http://www.mcmillan-inc.com/embed.html, FWIW.
Thanks for the link. Taught me two things:
1) Any sane person will prefer Boost.Python over the Python C API ;)
2) It is possible to create multiple interpreters, even in different
threads. This could lead to a very cool python::interpreter class indeed. :)
>>If I scrap the manual reference counting section though, then I've
>>still got the PyRun_String example. The PyRun_ functions are pretty
>>vital for embedding and they are not directly covered by Boost.Python
>>AFAIK.
>>
>>However, adding Boost.Python facilities for the PyRun_ functions
>>probably means adding a load of other Python C API facilites as well.
>
>
> Yup. It was always the intention to add these. Dave Hawkes made a
> valiant effort:
> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/c++-sig/2002-June/001503.html, but it
> was in some ways just too much to take into the library at once.
I see. Pity. Let's see how the incremental approach will fare.
>>I would like to have something like this in Boost.Python:
>>
>>object run_python_code(InputIterator begin, InputIterator end);
>
>
> These must have char as their value_type?
I suppose so. At least I don't see any unicode/wchar_t in the Python C
API. ;) I was under the impression that Python supported unicode source
files though. How does that work then?
Also, while this interface is nicely STL-ish, it is probably not very
efficient. I don't see how this can be implemented without some
std::copy to std::vector<char> or std::string. Thoughts?
>>object run_python_code(String str);
>
>
> Umm, what type is String?
char const* I suppose. I was more or less writing pseudo-C++. Sorry for
not mentioning that.
>>Or, if a python::module was added, perhaps this would be more generic:
>>
>>object run_python_code(InputIterator begin, InputIterator end, module
>>mod = main_module());
>>object run_python_code(String str, module mod = main_module());
>
>
> We don't really need a new type for that; we /could/ just use
> object. Until module has some useful constructor or member functions,
> there's no reason to add it.
Ah yes of course. Good point.
>>Also, it might be a good idea to wrap Py_Initialize and Py_Finalize in
>>a RAII class?
>
>
> Absolutely. Just as soon as Py_Finalize becomes safe for us ;-)
> That might be a good project for you...
I've been meaning to look into BPL's internals in more detail anyway. :)
I'm not sure if university will leave me with enough spare time though.
I think I should concentrate on the tutorial first.
>>I'm just not sure where this line of thought will end. It might add a
>>lot of functions and classes to Boost.Python.
>>
>>What do you think?
>
>
> I think that's OK, as long as we take small steps.
>
> We could start with just the minimum needed to do the kinds of
> embedding jobs you're tackling here.
Sounds like a plan.
Dirk Gerrits
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