96. Stable ABI Design Tradeoffs
What breaking the stable ABI costs, historical breakages, versioning policy, and the tradeoff against new features.
Tag
C-Api
12 notes
71. Calling C From Python
ctypes, cffi, and CFFI-based extension dispatch as the primary paths for calling C libraries from Python.
70. Calling Python From C
PyObject_Call, PyObject_CallNoArgs, argument tuple construction, and error checking after calling into Python.
69. Embedding Python
Py_Initialize, PyConfig, embedding CPython in a host process, and managing interpreter lifetime.
68. Limited API
Py_LIMITED_API version macros, symbols excluded from the limited API, and building abi3-compatible extensions.
67. Stable ABI
The stable ABI symbol set, abi3 wheel tagging, and the constraints imposed by maintaining ABI compatibility.
66. Capsules
PyCapsule_New, PyCapsule_GetPointer, and the pattern for passing opaque C pointers between extension modules.
65. Buffer Protocol
Py_buffer, PyBUF_* flags, PyObject_GetBuffer, and implementing the buffer protocol in a custom type.
64. Defining New Types
PyTypeObject slot-by-slot walkthrough: tp_new, tp_init, tp_dealloc, tp_methods, tp_getset, and inheritance.
63. Creating Extension Modules
PyModuleDef structure, PyModule_Create, multi-phase initialization (PEP 451), and module state.
62. Reference Ownership Rules
Borrowed vs. owned references, Py_XDECREF patterns, and common reference counting mistakes in extensions.
61. The Python C API
Public C API overview, Include/ header organization, and the stable vs. internal API distinction.