Build software that combines Python’s expressivity with the performance and control of C (and C++). It’s possible with Cython, the compiler and hybrid programming language used by foundational packages such as NumPy, and prominent in projects including Pandas, h5py, and scikits-learn. In this practical guide, you’ll learn how to use Cython to improve Python’s performance—up to 3000x— and to wrap C and C++ libraries in Python with ease.

Author Kurt Smith takes you through Cython’s capabilities, with sample code and in-depth practice exercises. If you’re just starting with Cython, or want to go deeper, you’ll learn how this language is an essential part of any performance-oriented Python programmer’s arsenal.

• Use Cython’s static typing to speed up Python code


• Gain hands-on experience using Cython features to boost your numeric-heavy Python


• Create new types with Cython—and see how fast object-oriented programming in Python can be


• Effectively organize Cython code into separate modules and packages without sacrificing performance


• Use Cython to give Pythonic interfaces to C and C++ libraries


• Optimize code with Cython’s runtime and compile-time profiling tools


• Use Cython’s prange function to parallelize loops transparently with OpenMP