17 replies to this topic

[CatatonicMan]

The interpreter already can (and does) execute python bytecode (the .pyc files). As far as I know, (almost?) all Python code requires an interpreter to run.

Are you referring to decompiling the bytecode to get a human-readable version (.pyc to .py)?

[manux]

You can use the dis module to "disassemble" pyc bytecode.(it will basically output a readable format of the tokens in the pyc).
You can write a virtual machine for that though I would recommend just downloading Python's source and copying/reading it to understand how it works.
And please tell us more about your idea ;)

[manux]

well let's say you have a module named foo.py

def bar():

    return 12

Importing foo from another module will create a file called foo.pyc which is the actual bytecode.
If you know the functions defined in foo, here we have bar, then you can use it normally:

import foo

print foo.bar()#prints 12

If you don't, you can always use dir(foo) to list the attributes of the module, i.e. it's methods/classes/variables, but you'll have to guess by the name, or by trial and error, which is which.

You don't need a function that interprets a .pyc, you just need python to import the module.

Edit: By the way, if you want to use python from C/C++ you can use the Python/C API
You might also want to read:
Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter - Python v2.6.5 documentation

[manux]

Well, I'm happy to hear that you have positive plans for the open source domain.

If you want to do it* for the sake of knowing how to do it, let me recommend you to download the CPython source code, and look into it, especially the dynamic import part, I don't know your level in computer programming, but if you have any questions regarding the way CPython implements the language, feel free to post in their mailing list, or here if you want, but we might not know the answers ;)
*"it" being reading compiled bytecode.

[marwex89]

And that is called an add-in, add on, or plug in (plugin). There are hundreds of plugin managers on the market, lots and lots of programs use it. Some let you write plugins in C or C++, some in a scripting language (like Python). Take Mozilla Firefox, for instance. And - since we are talking about video tools - Sony Vegas.

Just saying.

[manux]

The current problem with plugins, most of the time, is that there is no or few documentation to the API of the given program. Sometimes it's not even an real API, you have to figure things out by yourself by browsing the (undocumented) source :(

[marwex89]

Yes, that seems to apply to most software. Nobody wants do document anything, they just code.