MyPyC Compilation for Python Functions

This repository demonstrates how to use mypyc to compile Python functions into optimized native code, significantly improving performance.

Table of Contents

• MyPyC Compilation for Python Functions
  • Table of Contents
  • Overview
  • How to Use mypyc to Compile Python Files
    • Step 1: Compile Python Files with mypyc
    • Step 2: Use the Compiled File in Python
  • Automated Compilation with Batch Script
    • setup.cmd Script
    • Running the Script
  • Setting Up the Project for Compilation (Optional)
  • Why Use mypyc?
    • Advantages of mypyc
    • Disadvantages of mypyc
    • When to Use mypyc
    • When Not to Use mypyc
  • Summary
  • Author

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Overview

MyPyC is a tool that compiles Python code into C extensions, allowing Python programs to run faster. It integrates with mypy type annotations and is ideal for improving performance in CPU-bound tasks.

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How to Use mypyc to Compile Python Files

Step 1: Compile Python Files with mypyc

To compile a Python file using mypyc, run the following command:

mypyc <filename>.py

This command compiles the Python file into a C extension and generates a .pyd file (on Windows). For example, if your file is example.py, the result will be something like:

<filename>.cp312-win_amd64.pyd

Step 2: Use the Compiled File in Python

Once the .pyd file is generated, you can import it in Python just like a regular module:

python -c "import <filename>"

The compiled functions can now be imported and used in Python, providing a performance boost over the regular Python implementation.

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Automated Compilation with Batch Script

If you have multiple Python files to compile, you can automate the process with the included batch script.

setup.cmd Script

The setup.cmd script compiles all .py files in the functions folder and moves the resulting .pyd files to the compiled_functions folder. It also ensures that the compiled_functions folder exists and handles the compilation automatically.

Running the Script

To compile and move all files in the functions folder, run the batch script:

setup.cmd

This script will:

1. Compile all .py files in the functions folder using mypyc.
2. Move the resulting .pyd files to the compiled_functions folder.

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Setting Up the Project for Compilation (Optional)

If you'd like to use setuptools and mypycify to automate the compilation for Python packages, here's an example setup.py script:

from setuptools import setup
from mypyc.build import mypycify

setup(
    name="functions",
    version="1.0",
    packages=["functions"],
    ext_modules=mypycify(
        ["functions"]  # Compile all .py files in the functions folder
    ),
    package_dir={
        "": "./compiled_functions"  # Specify the root directory for the source
    },
)

To build the extension, run:

python setup.py build_ext --inplace

This will compile the .py files and place the resulting .pyd files in the compiled_functions directory.

Note: This method was not used in this project due to issues during the compilation process.

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Why Use mypyc?

MyPyC compiles Python code into optimized C extensions, making your Python programs run faster. It works well with type annotations and is specifically designed to improve performance in CPU-bound tasks.

Advantages of mypyc

1. Performance Improvements:

   • mypyc can provide significant speedups (ranging from 20% to 200%) for CPU-bound tasks, particularly those with computationally intensive operations.

2. Type Annotation Compatibility:

   • Works seamlessly with mypy-annotated code, which allows for both type safety and performance optimization.

3. Improved Startup Time:

   • Compiling Python code to C can reduce the startup time for applications, especially those with heavy initial processing or many imports.

4. Integration with the Python Ecosystem:

   • mypyc compiles existing Python code into C extensions, meaning you can continue to use the vast Python ecosystem without major changes.

5. No Need to Rewrite Codebase:

   • Unlike Cython, which requires you to rewrite large portions of your code, mypyc allows you to improve performance incrementally by compiling existing Python files.

Disadvantages of mypyc

1. Limited Support for Dynamic Features:

   • mypyc works best with statically typed Python code. It may not handle highly dynamic features (e.g., exec(), eval(), dynamic attribute access) well.

2. Compilation Overhead:

   • The need to compile Python files into C extensions adds an extra step to the build process, which can slow down development and deployment.

3. Limited Ecosystem and Adoption:

   • mypyc is relatively new compared to other tools like Cython and may not be as widely supported or documented. It may also have compatibility issues with some libraries or Python features.

4. Maintenance Challenges:

   • Managing both the Python source code and its compiled C extensions requires careful maintenance to avoid issues as the codebase evolves.

5. Compatibility Issues:

   • Some third-party Python libraries, especially those using dynamic features, may not work well with mypyc.

When to Use mypyc

• Type-annotated code: If your Python code uses type hints and you want to improve its performance.
• CPU-bound tasks: For numerical computations, data processing, or other performance-critical tasks.
• Improving startup time: When startup speed is crucial, especially in larger applications.

When Not to Use mypyc

• Dynamic code: If your code relies heavily on dynamic Python features or uses libraries that mypyc does not support.
• Rapid iteration: If fast development cycles are more important than performance improvements.
• Non-CPU-bound tasks: If performance improvements do not justify the added complexity for non-CPU-bound code.

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Summary

mypyc is a valuable tool for improving the performance of Python code, especially when it involves CPU-bound operations and uses type annotations. While it offers many advantages, such as improved speed and seamless integration with the Python ecosystem, it also has some limitations, particularly with dynamic features and libraries.

This repository provides tools to:

1. Compile individual Python files with mypyc.

   mypyc <filename>.py

2. Import the compiled .pyd file into Python.

   python -c "import <filename>"

3. Automate the compilation process for all .py files in a folder using the setup.cmd script.

   setup.cmd

4. Use setuptools and mypycify to automate compilation for Python packages.

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Author

• Carlos Valente