---
icon: cpu
title: Write C Bindings
order: 18
---

In order to use a C/C++ library in python, you need to write bindings for it.

pkpy uses an universal signature to wrap a C function pointer as a python function or method, i.e `py_CFunction`.

```c
typedef bool (*py_CFunction)(int argc, py_Ref argv);
```
+ `argc` is the number of arguments passed to the function.
+ `argv` is the pointer to the first argument.

If successful, the function should return `true` and set the return value in `py_retval()`. In case there is no return value, you should use `py_newnone(py_retval())`.
If an error occurs, the function should raise an exception and return `false`.

## Steps

### Bind a simple function
Say you have a function `add` that takes two integers and returns their sum.
```c
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}
```

Here is how you can write the binding for it:
```c
// 1. Define a wrapper function with the signature `py_CFunction`.
bool py_add(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 2. Check the number of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARGC(2);
    // 3. Check the type of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(0, tp_int);
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(1, tp_int);
    // 4. Convert the arguments into C types.
    int _0 = py_toint(py_arg(0));
    int _1 = py_toint(py_arg(1));
    // 5. Call the original function.
    int res = add(_0, _1);
    // 6. Set the return value.
    py_newint(py_retval(), res);
    // 7. Return `true`.
    return true;
}
```

Once you have the wrapper function, you can bind it to a python module via `py_bindfunc`.
```c
py_GlobalRef mod = py_getmodule("__main__");
py_bindfunc(mod, "add", py_add);
```

Alternatively, you can use `py_bind` with a signature, which allows you to specify some default values.
```c
py_GlobalRef mod = py_getmodule("__main__");
py_bind(mod, "add(a, b=1)", py_add);
```

### Bind a struct
If you have a struct like this:
```c
typedef struct MyStruct {
    int p;
    int datasize;
    py_TValue* data;
}MyStruct;
```

`p` is some kind of property of the struct, and this struct is used for storing `datasize` numbers.

Here's how you can create a `MyStruct`:
```c
// 1. Define a wrapper function with the signature `py_CFunction`.
bool MyStruct__new__(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 2. Check the number of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARGC(4);
    // 3. Check the type of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(0, tp_type);
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(1, tp_int);
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(2, tp_int);
    // 4. Convert the arguments into C types. Create a custom type for `MyStruct`.
    py_Type cls = py_totype(py_arg(0));
    int p = py_toint(py_arg(1));
    int datasize = py_toint(py_arg(2));
    py_Ref default_value = py_arg(3);
    // 5. Create a MyStruct instance, where `datasize` gives correspond slots to store numbers.
    py_StackRef res_ref = py_pushtmp();
    MyStruct* res = py_newobject(res_ref, cls, datasize, sizeof(MyStruct));
    // 6. Set the values.
    res->p = p;
    res->datasize = datasize;
    // 7. `data` is in the head of slots, init `data` with zeros.
    res->data = py_getslot(res_ref, 0);
    for (int i = 0; i < datasize; i++) {
        res->data[i] = *default_value;
    }
    // 8. Put the created struct into the return value register.
    py_assign(py_retval(), res_ref);
    // 9. Pop the struct safely.
    py_pop();
    return true;
}
```

Function for getting the property `p` from `MyStruct`:
```c
bool MyStruct_p(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 1. Check the number of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARGC(1);
    // 2. Convert the arguments into C types.
    MyStruct* self = py_touserdata(argv);
    // 3. Set the p value.
    py_newint(py_retval(), self->p);
    // 4. Return `true`.
    return true;
}
```
**Be careful**, we assume `p` is a property of `MyStruct`, so later `p` is bound as a **read-only** property.

Function for getting a specified number from `data`:
```c
bool MyStruct_data_get(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 1. Check the number and type of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARGC(2);
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(1, tp_int);
    // 2. Convert the arguments into C types.
    MyStruct* self = py_touserdata(argv);
    int index = py_toint(py_arg(1));
    // 3. Exception if the index is out of range.
    if (index >= self->datasize) {
        return IndexError("%d is not a valid index in an array of length %d.", index, self->datasize);
    }
    // 4. Return the value.
    py_assign(py_retval(), self->data + index);
    // 5. Return `true`.
    return true;
}
```

Function for setting a number's value in `data`:
```c
bool MyStruct_data_set(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 1. Check the number and type of arguments.
    PY_CHECK_ARGC(3);
    PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(1, tp_int);
    // 2. Convert the arguments into C types.
    MyStruct* self = py_touserdata(argv);
    int index = py_toint(py_arg(1));
    py_Ref value = py_arg(2);
    // 3. Exception if the index is out of range.
    if (index >= self->datasize) {
        return IndexError("%d is not a valid index in an array of length %d.", index, self->datasize);
    }
    // 4. Set the value.
    self->data[index] = *value;
    // 5. All functions should have a return value. None is returned here.
    py_newnone(py_retval());
    // 6. Return `true`.
    return true;
}
```
The two functions above provide a method of operating numbers that stores in `data` array. In python, `data[index]` uses the magic methods `__getitem__` and `__setitem__`.

Now you can bind the functions to the new module `mystruct`:
```c
py_GlobalRef mod = py_newmodule("mystruct");
// 1. Add a custom type.
py_Type mystruct = py_newtype("custom_struct", tp_object, mod, NULL);
// 2. Bind the function of creating MyStruct.
py_bind(py_tpobject(mystruct), "__new__(cls, p: int, datasize: int, default_value: int | None = None)", MyStruct__new__);
// 3. Bind the property `p`.
py_bindproperty(mystruct, "p", MyStruct_p, NULL);
// 4. Bind magic methods of operating numbers in `data`.
py_bindmagic(mystruct, __getitem__, MyStruct_data_get);
py_bindmagic(mystruct, __setitem__, MyStruct_data_set);
```

You can use it like this:
```python
import mystruct
test = mystruct.custom_struct(3,4) # p=3, 4 slots for data
print(test.p) # 3
print(test[0]) # __getitem__, None
test[0] = 1.3 # __setitem__, 1.3
test[1] = 100 # __setitem__, 100
print(test[0]) # 1.3
print(test[1]) # 100
print(test[4]) # IndexError: 4 is not a valid index in an array of length 4.
test.p = 100 # TypeError: readonly attribute: `p`
```

### Bind a function with arbitrary argument lists
Sometimes you want a function that takes arbitrary input arguments. For example, sum several numbers in the table, 
or make a simple `print` function.

#### Sum several numbers
Say you have 2,3,4,5,6 and put them into the `sum` function. Here's an implementation:
```c
bool py_sum(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
    // 1. These numbers are packed as a tuple
	PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(0, tp_tuple);
    // 2. Get the length of the tuple
	int len = py_tuple_len(py_arg(0));
	int res = 0;
    // 3. Sum the numbers up.
	for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
		int _0 = py_toint(py_tuple_getitem(py_arg(0), i));
		res += _0;
	}
    // 4. Set the result.
	py_newint(py_retval(), res);
    // 5. Return `true`.
	return res;
}
```

And then bind it:
```c
py_GlobalRef mod = py_newmodule("sumary");
py_bind(mod, "sum(*values: tuple[int])", py_sum);
```

It can be used like this:
```python
import sumary
print(sumary.sum(2,3,4,5,6)) # 20
```

#### Make a simple print function
Let's make a simple print function now. It takes arbitrary argument `*values`, and `end`/`sep`
is not necessary. It's so simple that only string argument is acceptable. 

Here's an implementation:
```c
bool py_print(int argc, py_Ref argv) {
	// 1. *values is always a tuple.
	PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(0, tp_tuple);
	// 2. Convert the argument into C type.
	py_Ref tuple = py_arg(0);
	// 3. Get the length of the tuple.
	int len = py_tuple_len(py_arg(0));
	const char* end = "\n";
	const char* sep = " ";
	// 4. First arg is sep, but it could be None. 
	if (!py_isnone(py_arg(1))) {
		PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(1, tp_str);
		sep = py_tostr(py_arg(1));
	}
	// 5. Second arg is end, it also can be None.
	if (!py_isnone(py_arg(2))) {
		PY_CHECK_ARG_TYPE(2, tp_str);
		end = py_tostr(py_arg(2));
	}
	// 6. Print.
	for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
		if (i > 0) {
			printf("%s", sep);
		}
		// 7. It can print iterable like `list` if you modify this line.
		py_Ref to_print = py_tuple_getitem(py_arg(0), i);
		if (py_istype(to_print, tp_int)) {
			printf("%lld", py_toint(to_print));
		}
		else if (py_istype(to_print, tp_str)) {
			printf("%s", py_tostr(to_print));
		}
	}
	printf("%s", end);
	// 8. All the functions should return a value, here None is returned.
	py_newnone(py_retval());
	return true;
}
```

And then bind:
```c
py_GlobalRef mod = py_newmodule("myprint");
py_bind(mod, "my_print(*values, sep: str | None = None, end: str | None = None)", py_print);
```

It can print names like this:
```python
import myprint
myprint.my_print(123456,'Mary', end = 'Cake', sep = '|') # 123456|MaryCake
```


See also:
+ [`py_bind`](/c-api/functions/#py_bind)
+ [`py_bindmethod`](/c-api/functions/#py_bindmethod)
+ [`py_bindfunc`](/c-api/functions/#py_bindfunc)
+ [`py_bindproperty`](/c-api/functions/#py_bindproperty)
+ [`py_newmodule`](/c-api/functions/#py_newmodule)
+ [`py_newtype`](/c-api/functions/#py_newtype)
+ [Application in TIC-80](https://github.com/nesbox/TIC-80/blob/main/src/api/python.c)