[Python-Dev] Improve Python for embedding (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido at python.org
Mon Dec 22 14:33:29 EST 2003

I find the current situation when 'embedding' Python rather unsatisfying.

I'm interested in improve it. Can you explain what exactly your 'embedding' requirements are?

1. Careful preparation (hacking?) of environment variables is needed to avoid that PyInitialize() takes the default actions needed for the standard Python interpreter (for example, to avoid the default sys.path).

I guess it depends on the embedding needs. Some embedded uses would be quite happy with the default sys.path.

2. A suggestion from /F on c.l.p was to change pythonw.exe so that instead of hiding all output to stderr a console window would be opened to show the tracebacks. This requires to construct an object with a 'write' method doing all this magic, and it must be done after the call to PyInitialize() and before PyRunSimpleFile(). Now, looking at the code of PyMain(), it seems impossible without rewriting most of the code.

I'm not sure what this has to do with embedding -- can you clarify?

Possible improvements I currently can think of are:

- Provide a function like PyInitializeEx(), which accepts parameters specifying an initial sys.path, optimize flag, verbose flag, and so on.

Except for sys.path, you can set most flags directly before calling Py_Initialize(), so I'm not sure if there's a need to pass these into Py_Initialize().

- Split PyMain() into 2 functions PyMainPrepare() and PyMainRun(), or let PyMain() accept a callback function which will be called jsut after PyInitialize() has been run.

OK, now I'm confused. If you're embedding Python, why would you be using Py_Main() at all?

I'm not ready to write a PEP, but if there are people sharing this feeling I would suggest we create a wiki entry somewhere acting as a temporary brainstorming area.

Go ahead, but count me out of the wiki -- wikis don't work for discussions for me.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)

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