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<title>19. Python compiler package </title>
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<H1><A NAME="SECTION0021000000000000000000"></A><A NAME="compiler"></A>
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19. Python compiler package
</H1>

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<P>
The Python compiler package is a tool for analyzing Python source code
and generating Python bytecode.  The compiler contains libraries to
generate an abstract syntax tree from Python source code and to
generate Python bytecode from the tree.

<P>
The <tt class="module"><a href="module-compiler.html">compiler</a></tt> package is a Python source to bytecode
translator written in Python.  It uses the built-in parser and
standard <tt class="module"><a href="module-parser.html">parser</a></tt> module to generated a concrete syntax
tree.  This tree is used to generate an abstract syntax tree (AST) and
then Python bytecode.

<P>
The full functionality of the package duplicates the builtin compiler
provided with the Python interpreter.  It is intended to match its
behavior almost exactly.  Why implement another compiler that does the
same thing?  The package is useful for a variety of purposes.  It can
be modified more easily than the builtin compiler.  The AST it
generates is useful for analyzing Python source code.

<P>
This chapter explains how the various components of the
<tt class="module"><a href="module-compiler.html">compiler</a></tt> package work.  It blends reference material with
a tutorial.

<P>
The following modules are part of the <tt class="module"><a href="module-compiler.html">compiler</a></tt> package:

<P>
<table class='synopsistable' valign='baseline'>
  <tr class='oddrow'>
      <td><b><tt class='module'><a href='module-compiler.html'>compiler</a></tt></b></td>
      <td>&nbsp;</td>
      <td class='synopsis'></td></tr>
  <tr><td><b><tt class='module'><a href='module-compiler.ast.html'>compiler.ast</a></tt></b></td>
      <td>&nbsp;</td>
      <td class='synopsis'></td></tr>
  <tr class='oddrow'>
      <td><b><tt class='module'><a href='module-compiler.visitor.html'>compiler.visitor</a></tt></b></td>
      <td>&nbsp;</td>
      <td class='synopsis'></td></tr>
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<span class="release-info">Release 2.4.2, documentation updated on 28 September 2005.</span>
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