Building Cython code ==================== Cython code must, unlike Python, be compiled. This happens in two stages: - A ``.pyx`` or ``.py`` file is compiled by Cython to a ``.c`` file, containing the code of a Python extension module. - The ``.c`` file is compiled by a C compiler to a ``.so`` file (or ``.pyd`` on Windows) which can be ``import``-ed directly into a Python session. `setuptools `_ takes care of this part. Although Cython can call them for you in certain cases. To understand fully the Cython + setuptools build process, one may want to read more about `distributing Python modules `_. There are several ways to build Cython code: - Write a setuptools ``setup.py``. This is the normal and recommended way. - Run the ``cythonize`` command-line utility. This is a good approach for compiling a single Cython source file directly to an extension. A source file can be built "in place" (so that the extension module is created next to the source file, ready to be imported) with ``cythonize -i filename.pyx``. - Use :ref:`Pyximport`, importing Cython ``.pyx`` files as if they were ``.py`` files (using setuptools to compile and build in the background). This method is easier than writing a ``setup.py``, but is not very flexible. So you'll need to write a ``setup.py`` if, for example, you need certain compilations options. - Run the ``cython`` command-line utility manually to produce the ``.c`` file from the ``.pyx`` file, then manually compiling the ``.c`` file into a shared object library or DLL suitable for import from Python. (These manual steps are mostly for debugging and experimentation.) - Use the [Jupyter]_ notebook or the [Sage]_ notebook, both of which allow Cython code inline. This is the easiest way to get started writing Cython code and running it. Currently, using setuptools is the most common way Cython files are built and distributed. The other methods are described in more detail in the :ref:`compilation` section of the reference manual. Building a Cython module using setuptools ----------------------------------------- Imagine a simple "hello world" script in a file ``hello.pyx``: .. literalinclude:: ../../examples/quickstart/build/hello.pyx The following could be a corresponding ``setup.py`` script: .. literalinclude:: ../../examples/quickstart/build/setup.py To build, run ``python setup.py build_ext --inplace``. Then simply start a Python session and do ``from hello import say_hello_to`` and use the imported function as you see fit. .. _jupyter-notebook: Using the Jupyter notebook -------------------------- Cython can be used conveniently and interactively from a web browser through the Jupyter notebook. To install Jupyter notebook, e.g. into a virtualenv, use pip: .. code-block:: bash (venv)$ pip install jupyter (venv)$ jupyter notebook To enable support for Cython compilation, install Cython as described in :ref:`the installation guide` and load the ``Cython`` extension from within the Jupyter notebook:: %load_ext Cython Then, prefix a cell with the ``%%cython`` marker to compile it .. tabs:: .. group-tab:: Pure Python .. code-block:: python %%cython a: cython.int = 0 for i in range(10): a += i print(a) .. group-tab:: Cython .. code-block:: python %%cython cdef int a = 0 for i in range(10): a += i print(a) You can show Cython's code analysis by passing the ``--annotate`` option:: %%cython --annotate ... .. figure:: jupyter.png For more information about the arguments of the ``%%cython`` magic, see :ref:`Compiling with a Jupyter Notebook `. Using the Sage notebook ----------------------- .. figure:: sage.png For users of the Sage math distribution, the Sage notebook allows transparently editing and compiling Cython code simply by typing ``%cython`` at the top of a cell and evaluate it. Variables and functions defined in a Cython cell imported into the running session. .. [Jupyter] https://jupyter.org/ .. [Sage] W. Stein et al., Sage Mathematics Software, https://www.sagemath.org/