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<title>1. Extending Python with C or C++ </title>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION003000000000000000000"></A><A NAME="intro"></A>
<BR>
1. Extending Python with C or C++
</H1>

<P>
It is quite easy to add new built-in modules to Python, if you know
how to program in C.  Such <i class="dfn">extension modules</i> can do two things
that can't be done directly in Python: they can implement new built-in
object types, and they can call C library functions and system calls.

<P>
To support extensions, the Python API (Application Programmers
Interface) defines a set of functions, macros and variables that
provide access to most aspects of the Python run-time system.  The
Python API is incorporated in a C source file by including the header
<code>"Python.h"</code>.

<P>
The compilation of an extension module depends on its intended use as
well as on your system setup; details are given in later chapters.

<P>

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<LI><A href="simpleExample.html">1.1 A Simple Example</a>
<LI><A href="errors.html">1.2 Intermezzo: Errors and Exceptions</a>
<LI><A href="backToExample.html">1.3 Back to the Example</a>
<LI><A href="methodTable.html">1.4 The Module's Method Table and Initialization Function</a>
<LI><A href="compilation.html">1.5 Compilation and Linkage</a>
<LI><A href="callingPython.html">1.6 Calling Python Functions from C</a>
<LI><A href="parseTuple.html">1.7 Extracting Parameters in Extension Functions</a>
<LI><A href="parseTupleAndKeywords.html">1.8 Keyword Parameters for Extension Functions</a>
<LI><A href="buildValue.html">1.9 Building Arbitrary Values</a>
<LI><A href="refcounts.html">1.10 Reference Counts</a>
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<LI><A href="refcountsInPython.html">1.10.1 Reference Counting in Python</a>
<LI><A href="ownershipRules.html">1.10.2 Ownership Rules</a>
<LI><A href="thinIce.html">1.10.3 Thin Ice</a>
<LI><A href="nullPointers.html">1.10.4 NULL Pointers</a>
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<LI><A href="cplusplus.html">1.11 Writing Extensions in C++</a>
<LI><A href="using-cobjects.html">1.12 Providing a C API for an Extension Module</a>
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<span class="release-info">Release 2.4.2, documentation updated on 28 September 2005.</span>
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