Can python-C++ extension get a C++ object and call its member function? -

i writing python/c++ application, call methods in c++ extension python.

say c++ has class:

class {     private:         int _i;     public:         a(int i){_i=i;}         int get_i(){return _i;} }  a=a(); 

it there anyway python can a object in c++ , call member function, i.e.:

import cpp_extension a=cpp_extension.a() print a.get_i() 

any reference general reading appreciated.

yes. can create python c++ extension c++ objects visible within python if built-in types.

there 2 main ways go it.

1.create extension following documentation provided in cpython api documentation.

2.create extension using tool such boost::python or swig.

in experience boost::python best way go (it saves enormous amount of time, , price pay depend on boost).

for example, boost::python bindings follows:

// foo.cpp #include <boost/python.hpp>  class {   public:    a(int i)       : m_i{i} { }    int get_i() const {     return m_i;   }  private:   // don't use names such `_i`; reserved   // implementation   int m_i; };  boost_python_module(foo) {   using namespace boost::python;    class_<a>("a", init<int>())       .def("get_i", &a::get_i, "this docstring a::get_i")       ; } 

compile:

g++ -o foo.so foo.cpp -std=c++11 -fpic -shared \ -wall -wextra `python2.7-config --includes --libs` \ -lboost_python 

and run in python:

>>> import foo >>> = foo.a(2) >>> a.get_i() 2 >>> print a.get_i.__doc__  get_i( (a)arg1) -> int :     docstring a::get_i      c++ signature :         int get_i(a {lvalue})