C++ and Python Interoperability Demo

This project demonstrates how to use SWIG and CMake to facilitate the passing of pointers between C++ and Python. It showcases the creation of Python bindings for a C++ Shape class, leveraging SWIG to manage the interface between the two languages.

Prerequisites

• C++ compiler (e.g., GCC, MSVC)
• CMake (version 3.18 or later)
• Python (version 3.9 or later)
• SWIG (version 4.x or later)

Building the Project

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make

This will compile the C++ code and generate Python bindings, enabling Python scripts to interact with C++ classes.

Using the Python Bindings

Once the project is built, you can use the generated Python module to interact with the C++ Shape class from Python. Here is an example Python script that demonstrates this:

from shape import Circle

# Create an instance of the Circle class
circle = Circle(10)

# Call a method on the Shape instance
print(circle.area())

Demonstrating Interoperability

The main.cpp file demonstrates how to create a Python runtime context in C++ using the python.h header. It imports the Python bindings into the C++ Python runtime and transfers the C++ object for Circle class to Python using SWIG runtime commands.

Key Concepts Demonstrated

• Setting Python Home and Initializing Python Runtime: The application sets the Python home directory and initializes the Python interpreter.

• Creating and Manipulating C++ Objects: A Circle object is created in C++ and its attributes are manipulated.

• Executing Embedded Python Script: The C++ application executes Python code that interacts with the transferred C++ object.

Contributing

Feel free to contribute to this project by submitting pull requests or opening issues.