Building a Python Package with C Extensions using Poetry

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Python is an incredibly versatile language that can be used in a variety of applications, from web development to data science and more. However, Python’s interpreted nature can be a bottleneck for computationally intensive tasks. This is where C extensions come in. You can significantly speed up your application by writing parts of your Python code in C.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating a Python package that includes C extensions, and we'll show you how to compile this code for Unix and Windows systems. We will use the Poetry package manager, which simplifies dependency management and package creation.

Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you have a basic understanding of the Python and C programming languages and familiarity with using terminal or command line interface. You should have the following software installed on your computer:

• Python 3
• Poetry package manager
• A C compiler, such as gcc or Microsoft Visual C++

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project

First, we'll set up a new Python project using Poetry. Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where you want to create your new project…