Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter

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5.1 Very High Level Embedding

The simplest form of embedding Python is the use of the very high level interface. This interface is intended to execute a Python script without needing to interact with the application directly. This can for example be used to perform some operation on a file.

#include <Python.h>

int
main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  Py_Initialize();
  PyRun_SimpleString("from time import time,ctime\n"
                     "print 'Today is',ctime(time())\n");
  Py_Finalize();
  return 0;
}

The above code first initializes the Python interpreter with Py_Initialize(), followed by the execution of a hard-coded Python script that print the date and time. Afterwards, the Py_Finalize() call shuts the interpreter down, followed by the end of the program. In a real program, you may want to get the Python script from another source, perhaps a text-editor routine, a file, or a database. Getting the Python code from a file can better be done by using the PyRun_SimpleFile() function, which saves you the trouble of allocating memory space and loading the file contents.

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Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter

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Release 2.4.5, documentation updated on 18 October 2006.