[Python-Dev] PEP: Adding data-type objects to Python (original) (raw)

Ron Adam rrr at ronadam.com
Wed Nov 1 00:58:39 CET 2006

The only benefit I imagine would be for an extension module library writer and for users of the struct and array modules. But, other than that, I don't know. It actually doesn't have to be exposed to Python. I used Python notation in the PEP to explain what is basically a C-structure. I don't care if the object ever gets exposed to Python.

Maybe that's part of the communication problem.

I get the impression where ctypes is good for accessing native C libraries from within python, the data-type object is meant to add a more direct way to share native python object's data with C (or other languages) in a more efficient way. For data that can be represented well in continuous memory address's, it lightens the load so instead of a list of python objects you get an "array of data for n python_type objects" without the duplications of the python type for every element.

I think maybe some more complete examples demonstrating how it is to be used from both the Python and C would be good.

Cheers, Ron

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