PythoC: A New Way to Generate C Code from Python

PythoC introduces a new method for generating C code using Python, offering more flexibility and compile-time features than Cython. Python and C are closely connected, and PythoC expands this relationship by letting developers write Python that produces standalone C programs.

How PythoC Works

Instead of generating Python extension modules like Cython, PythoC uses type-hinted Python to create pure C source files. Functions are decorated with @compile, and developers use machine-level types such as i32 instead of Python’s int.

Simple PythoC Example

from pythoc import compile, i32

@compile
def add(x: i32, y: i32) -> i32:
    return x + y

print(add(10, 20))

Generating a Standalone Executable

from pythoc import compile, i32, ptr, i8
from pythoc.libc.stdio import printf

@compile
def add(x: i32, y: i32) -> i32:
    return x + y

@compile
def main(argc: i32, argv: ptr[ptr[i8]]) -> i32:
    printf("%u\n", add(10, 20))

from pythoc import compile_to_executable
compile_to_executable()

C Feature Support

PythoC supports pointers, arrays, structs, unions, enums, and standard control flow. Only a few features like goto and variable-length arrays are not available yet.

Compile-Time Code Generation

PythoC allows creating type-specialized versions of classes and functions at compile time using suffixes. This enables polymorphism-like behavior in C.

Memory Safety Tools

PythoC adds linear types for safe memory allocation and refinement types for checks like non-null validation, reducing common C memory errors.

Future Possibilities

PythoC may eventually support caching compiled modules or deeper integration with Python’s build system. Its compile-time capabilities make it powerful for producing high-performance standalone applications.