When working with Python, it is common to encounter situations where you need to build and deliver Python modules. One way to achieve this is by using the cythonize function in setuptools. In this article, we will explore three different ways to solve this problem, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Option 1: Using the setup.py file

The first option is to use a setup.py file to define the module and its dependencies. This file should be placed in the root directory of your project. Here is an example of how the setup.py file should look:

from setuptools import setup
from Cython.Build import cythonize

setup(
    name='my_module',
    ext_modules=cythonize("my_module.pyx"),
)

In this example, we import the necessary modules and use the cythonize function to cythonize the “my_module.pyx” file. The setup function is then called with the name of the module and the cythonized extension module as arguments.

To build and deliver the module, you can run the following command in the terminal:

python setup.py build_ext --inplace

This command will build the module and place the resulting files in the same directory as the source files. You can then distribute the module by including the generated files in your project.

Option 2: Using a Makefile

The second option is to use a Makefile to automate the build process. Here is an example of how the Makefile should look:

cythonize:
    cythonize -i my_module.pyx

clean:
    rm -rf build
    rm -f my_module.c
    rm -f my_module.so

.PHONY: cythonize clean

In this example, we define two targets: “cythonize” and “clean”. The “cythonize” target uses the cythonize command to cythonize the “my_module.pyx” file. The “clean” target removes the build directory and any generated files.

To build and deliver the module, you can run the following command in the terminal:

make cythonize

This command will cythonize the module and generate the necessary files. You can then distribute the module by including the generated files in your project.

Option 3: Using a build script

The third option is to use a build script to automate the build process. Here is an example of how the build script should look:

import os
from Cython.Build import cythonize

def build_module():
    cythonize("my_module.pyx")

def clean():
    os.system("rm -rf build")
    os.system("rm -f my_module.c")
    os.system("rm -f my_module.so")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    build_module()

In this example, we define two functions: “build_module” and “clean”. The “build_module” function uses the cythonize function to cythonize the “my_module.pyx” file. The “clean” function removes the build directory and any generated files.

To build and deliver the module, you can run the following command in the terminal:

python build.py

This command will execute the build script and cythonize the module. You can then distribute the module by including the generated files in your project.

After exploring these three options, it is clear that using a setup.py file is the most recommended approach. It provides a standardized way to define and build Python modules, making it easier to distribute and install them. Additionally, using setuptools allows for better integration with other Python packaging tools and frameworks.