adding python scripting to my application

[Julian]

Hi, first of all, I have to say I am new to Python. I have been working
with a finite element analysis program written in c++. now, I am trying
to 'rebuild' this code (possibly a full re-write) with scripting
capability. I did some reading on the web, and found that there are two
ways to do this : extending and embedding. and I still haven't figured
out what I should be using. I guess the first thing is to figure out
what I am to do with the scripting capability - at the very least, I
would like to run parametric analyses - run multiple analysis models by
changing certain parameters using for loops.
i found that the commercial fea package - abaqus uses python as well -
I don't know whether they embedded or extended ? is there any way to
find out?
another fea application called OOF2
(http://www.ctcms.nist.gov/oof/oof2/#features) says "OOF2 is completely
scriptable in Python". and I don't really understand what that means...
maybe I haven't grasped the full potential of what python scripting
could do for an fea program.

can you tell me how to decide what path I should take - embed or extend
? or maybe some one could point me to some document/webpage that talks
about this.

thanks a lot,
Julian.

PS, my fea program uses its own script to read the analysis model
information using the c++ iostream and our own parsing functions - but
I don't have to stick to those function when I am writing the new code.