Talk Python To Me #486: CSnakes: Embed Python code in .NET
Nov 22, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Anthony Shaw, a lead Python advocate at Microsoft and author, along with Aaron Powell, a .NET developer, dive into their groundbreaking project, CSnakes. They explore how this tool enables developers to seamlessly integrate Python into .NET applications, unlocking access to nearly 600,000 PyPI packages. The duo discusses overcoming challenges in embedding Python, performance optimization, and the exciting world of code generation and type compatibility, making .NET much more versatile for developers.
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CPython's Importance
- CPython is crucial for many Python packages, especially in data science and machine learning.
- Projects like IronPython and Jython, implemented in other languages, often lack this compatibility.
CSnakes' Approach
- CSnakes integrates Python with .NET at the C level, leveraging Python's C API.
- This approach offers better compatibility and maintainability compared to rewriting the interpreter or relying on higher-level integrations.
Type Annotations
- Annotate Python function arguments and return types for better integration with CSnakes.
- CSnakes can then handle the data type conversion (marshalling) between Python and .NET automatically.
