Jose Martin wrote: > > Hi, I'd like to access a C function from python, and the function takes > input/output arrays. I'd probably use SWIG to do the interface to the C > code. I found 2 options: > -NumPtr module, to access Numeric arrays as pointers > http://www.penzilla.net/tutorials/python/numptr/ > - numpy.i, a SWIG interface file for NumPy that defines typemaps > http://projects.scipy.org/scipy/numpy/browser/trunk/numpy/doc/swig/doc/numpy_swig.html > > I'm not sure if there is significant differences between the 2 options > (besides using either NumPy or Numeric). Does numpy.i interface file use > pointers to access NumPy arrays? or does it make a copy of the array to > pass it to/from the C function?
I'll use the opportunity to recommend Cython, http://cython.org. (Disclaimer: I am not objective as I am very involved with Cython development, in particular I'll spend this summer improving NumPy support in it. You should listen to others on SWIG.) Cython is a different approach from SWIG (see http://wiki.cython.org/WrappingCorCpp; in particular SWIG uses more layers of indirection). To wrap a function, say, dealing with a 2-D float64 NumPy array, you'd write the following Cython code (Cython is a seperate language, sort of a mix of Python and C): import numpy cimport numpy import_array() cdef extern from "your_c_header.h": int your_func(numpy.float64* buf, unsigned int width, unsigned int height) def call_your_func(numpy.ndarray arr): if arr.ndim != 2: raise ValueError("Need 2D array") # ... and so on. Better make sure array is C-contiguous too! # (or convert it) return your_func(<numpy.float64*>arr.data, arr.shape[0], arr.shape[1]) After Cython compilation you get a C file, and after compiling the C file you can import it into Python like a normal module and call "call_your_func" directly. That's an overview. Basically, "arr" behaves exactly like a Python object, except for when accessing the fields in which case values from the underlying C implementation will be returned instead. More info can be found on cython.org etc. (or ask!). Dag Sverre PS. You'll need an "numpy.pxd" (put it in the same directory, the "cimport" pulls it in). Here's mine: cdef extern from "Python.h": ctypedef int Py_intptr_t cdef extern from "numpy/arrayobject.h": ctypedef class numpy.ndarray [object PyArrayObject]: cdef char *data cdef int ndim "nd" cdef Py_intptr_t *shape "dimensions" cdef Py_intptr_t *strides cdef void import_array() ctypedef float npy_float64 ctypedef float npy_float80 ctypedef int npy_int8 ctypedef int npy_uint8 ctypedef int npy_int32 ctypedef int npy_uint32 ctypedef int npy_int64 ctypedef int npy_uint64 ... _______________________________________________ Numpy-discussion mailing list Numpy-discussion@scipy.org http://projects.scipy.org/mailman/listinfo/numpy-discussion
