If the C variant needs x hours less, then I'd invest that time in letting the algorithms run longer/again

"invest" isn't the right word here.

  1. Build a working implementation in Python. You'll finish this long before you'd finish a C version.

  2. Measure performance with the Python profiler. Fix any problems you find. Change data structures and algorithms as necessary to really do this properly. You'll finish this long before you finish the first version in C.

  3. If it's still too slow, manually translate the well-designed and carefully constructed Python into C.

    Because of the way hindsight works, doing the second version from existing Python (with existing unit tests, and with existing profiling data) will still be faster than trying to do the C code from scratch.

This quote is important.

Thompson's Rule for First-Time Telescope Makers
It is faster to make a four-inch mirror and then a six-inch mirror than to make a six-inch mirror.

Bill McKeenan
Wang Institute

Answer from S.Lott on Stack Overflow
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Are there any libraries that can easily convert Python to C/C#/or C++? Ones where a person doesn't have to "calibrate" it, just, pip install library and then they can have their Python code in C,C#,or C++?
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April 6, 2023
Is there anything to translate Python to C code?
Hi, I am looking for a transpiler that converts Python into C, not something like in Cython where it gets transpiled to an extenion? More on discuss.python.org
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December 1, 2021
Switching from C to Python: A Mixed Experience
Here's what I often write to devs moving over (some links might be helpful): Python is just another coding language, so existing skills in programming and domain knowledge will benefit potential employers/clients even if they require Python coding. Experienced programmers know that coding is a small part of programming, but proficiency in (and enjoyment of) any particular language, best suited to particular problem types, is, of course, highly beneficial. There are many areas that Python has become well established in. Machine learning and AI are very well served in Python. Alongside R for the more statistically inclined, data science & analytics is an incredibly common field for Python. The latest release of Excel includes Python in recognition of this. A review of Python Success Stories , on the Python Software Foundation website, will provide a good view of the wide range of areas Python has been used in. Python isn't the best answer for all problems (and may be highly unsuitable for some, of course), although it might be the most pragmatic in organisations that have a lot of experience in, and well established ecosystems around, it (such as sophisticated CI/CD pipelines). For example, Python isn't the best language for modern triple-A games, but it is heavily used by many games software houses to orchestrate, automate, optimise the work. Some of the largest consumer services in the world are heavily Python based, such as Instagram (leaning strongly on the Python Django web framework). Most experienced programmers shall be well versed in data structures, algorithms, design patterns, and so on. They are largely independent of the coding language. The same principles apply to Python, although the implementation patterns (and efficiencies) will vary. Similarly, successful programmers will likely be comfortable with CI/CD tooling and workflows, which are just as important for Python as for other languages. Programmers new to Python may want to spend some time looking at the most popular testing frameworks, though, such as PyTest (rather than the standard unittest) to work with those pipelines. Packaging for Python is perhaps another area to get some experience around as that will be different from other languages, especially given that as standard Python is not compiled to binary. (for those not aware, the standard CPython reference implementation compiles to byte code, much like happens with Java, for execution in a Python Virtual Machine, built into CPython.) I'd recommend looking at videos on YouTube by ArjanCodes , especially those doing some kind of code reviews (will help you spot a lot of potential problems). One book I would recommend is Fluent Python, 2nd Edition by Luciano Ramalho. Additional tips A quick look at the docs, should suffice for many programmers taking up Python There are a few underpinning differences to be aware of Python is not statically typed, some mistake this for with weak typing Python is in fact strongly typed, Applies at run time, not at compile time Python is compiled to a byte code, just like Java, but where the latter executes on a JVM, the Python virtual machine is built into the standard implementations of Python as part of the same programme (CPython for the reference implementation) type hinting, is option but will help your IDE greatly in spotting potential problems Ignored at run time, just there for your benefit There are also some external tools that can be run to check types using the type hints, which can be useful for testing in a CI/CD pipeline pydantic is a popular library for taking typing management further Essentially, everything in Python is an object all variables/names are effectively pointers (they reference the objects in memory) but without all the features you get in C (e.g. no pointer arithmetic) but there isn't a pointer type Python does its own garbage collection / memory management (and uses a reference counting system to know when objects are no longer required) functions are first class citizens for is more of a for each variables assigned to objects inside a loop, remain in-scope beyond the loop Python uses indenting to distinguish code blocks, rather than ; and {}, white space is important (recommended default indentation is 4 spaces (sic)) A couple of videos to watch which, despite being old, will lock in some key differences in approach to keep in mind: Loop like a native: while, for, iterators, generators presented by Ned Batchelder Python's Class Development Toolkit by Raymond Hettinger (a Python core developer) Given the referenced implementation of Python is written in C and Python, a quick look at the source code will resolve many queries for experienced programmers as well. Overall, there is much less boilerplate code required in Python than typical C/C++ projects. There are a huge number of libraries/packages to use, many of which are written in C (such as NumPy) for performance. It can be useful to use some of the existing C/C++ code from Python rather than completely recoding in Python. The Cython project, offering C extensions for Python, might be worth looking at if there is a lot of C/C++ code to exploit. More on reddit.com
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33
March 7, 2025
C or Python?

I learned Python as my first language. I am by no means good at programming, but I had to learn it so I did. It is pretty straightforward in terms of syntax and it reads kind of like English. I guess it was good for me to focus on the logic rather than the syntax and other things. Now I have to learn C++ and for the most part i am happy to have the logic part down and now it's just a matter of time to get used to the syntax and specific things of C++.

I think if I would have learned c++ first I would have been very overwhelmed, but I had no experience at all and everything was foreign to me so I can't say if this is the case for you.

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May 31, 2018
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December 1, 2021 - Hi, I am looking for a transpiler that converts Python into C, not something like in Cython where it gets transpiled to an extenion?
Find elsewhere
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10006 function calls in 0.569 seconds Ordered by: internal time ncalls tottime percall cumtime percall filename:lineno(function) 4950 0.551 0.000 0.559 0.000 <ipython-input-14-bdacffbdf484>:1(py_euclidean) 1 0.010 0.010 0.569 0.569 <ipython-input-14-bdacffbdf484>:9(py_pairwise) 5051 0.008 0.000 0.008 0.000 {range} 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 {numpy.core.multiarray.empty} 1 0.000 0.000 0.569 0.569 <string>:1(<module>) 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 {len} 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 {method 'disable' of '_lsprof.Profiler' objects}
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gcc -Os -I /usr/include/python3.8 -o script script.c -lpython3.8 -lpthread -lm -lutil -ldl · ./script · and done. Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment ·
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r/learnpython on Reddit: Switching from C to Python: A Mixed Experience
March 7, 2025 -

After several weeks of working with C, transitioning to Python has felt like a relief in many ways—no more manual memory management, function prototypes, or compilation steps. Python’s built-in data structures, like lists and dictionaries, simplify many tasks that required linked lists and hash tables in C. Error messages are also clearer, making debugging easier.

C was the first language I learnt, so I'll always have a soft spot for it.

Despite the objectively simpler syntax in Python, I find myself instinctively trying to write code the "C way," which doesn’t always translate well. Writing Pythonic code requires a change in thinking, just like learning a new spoken language (something I've also embarked on after moving to a new country). Maybe I'm making slow progress, or maybe it's normal?

While I understand the logic of Python syntax, structuring loops and handling iteration in feels harder to manage, at least for me. The final problem in CS50’s Python set—DNA sequence matching—was particularly frustrating. I really struggled to adjust to Python’s looping and file handling, especially when combing both. Looking back the logic is somewhat trivial and in comparison to some of the C programs I have written, should have been a lot easier.

Python’s abstraction over iteration is both a strength and an adjustment—rather than controlling every step like in C, I need to embrace higher-level thinking. It's hard to break away from thinking the way you were initially taught, though.

Despite these hurdles, Python’s ease of use and powerful built-in tools are making coding feel more intuitive. I know that, like with C, things will click with time and practice. The goal now is to embrace "Pythonic thinking" and continue improving, at whatever rate that is.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions on what I can focus on going forward let me know.

I've started to read "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python", and I am considering MIT OCW Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science. Has anyone taken this course?

Top answer
1 of 4
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Here's what I often write to devs moving over (some links might be helpful): Python is just another coding language, so existing skills in programming and domain knowledge will benefit potential employers/clients even if they require Python coding. Experienced programmers know that coding is a small part of programming, but proficiency in (and enjoyment of) any particular language, best suited to particular problem types, is, of course, highly beneficial. There are many areas that Python has become well established in. Machine learning and AI are very well served in Python. Alongside R for the more statistically inclined, data science & analytics is an incredibly common field for Python. The latest release of Excel includes Python in recognition of this. A review of Python Success Stories , on the Python Software Foundation website, will provide a good view of the wide range of areas Python has been used in. Python isn't the best answer for all problems (and may be highly unsuitable for some, of course), although it might be the most pragmatic in organisations that have a lot of experience in, and well established ecosystems around, it (such as sophisticated CI/CD pipelines). For example, Python isn't the best language for modern triple-A games, but it is heavily used by many games software houses to orchestrate, automate, optimise the work. Some of the largest consumer services in the world are heavily Python based, such as Instagram (leaning strongly on the Python Django web framework). Most experienced programmers shall be well versed in data structures, algorithms, design patterns, and so on. They are largely independent of the coding language. The same principles apply to Python, although the implementation patterns (and efficiencies) will vary. Similarly, successful programmers will likely be comfortable with CI/CD tooling and workflows, which are just as important for Python as for other languages. Programmers new to Python may want to spend some time looking at the most popular testing frameworks, though, such as PyTest (rather than the standard unittest) to work with those pipelines. Packaging for Python is perhaps another area to get some experience around as that will be different from other languages, especially given that as standard Python is not compiled to binary. (for those not aware, the standard CPython reference implementation compiles to byte code, much like happens with Java, for execution in a Python Virtual Machine, built into CPython.) I'd recommend looking at videos on YouTube by ArjanCodes , especially those doing some kind of code reviews (will help you spot a lot of potential problems). One book I would recommend is Fluent Python, 2nd Edition by Luciano Ramalho. Additional tips A quick look at the docs, should suffice for many programmers taking up Python There are a few underpinning differences to be aware of Python is not statically typed, some mistake this for with weak typing Python is in fact strongly typed, Applies at run time, not at compile time Python is compiled to a byte code, just like Java, but where the latter executes on a JVM, the Python virtual machine is built into the standard implementations of Python as part of the same programme (CPython for the reference implementation) type hinting, is option but will help your IDE greatly in spotting potential problems Ignored at run time, just there for your benefit There are also some external tools that can be run to check types using the type hints, which can be useful for testing in a CI/CD pipeline pydantic is a popular library for taking typing management further Essentially, everything in Python is an object all variables/names are effectively pointers (they reference the objects in memory) but without all the features you get in C (e.g. no pointer arithmetic) but there isn't a pointer type Python does its own garbage collection / memory management (and uses a reference counting system to know when objects are no longer required) functions are first class citizens for is more of a for each variables assigned to objects inside a loop, remain in-scope beyond the loop Python uses indenting to distinguish code blocks, rather than ; and {}, white space is important (recommended default indentation is 4 spaces (sic)) A couple of videos to watch which, despite being old, will lock in some key differences in approach to keep in mind: Loop like a native: while, for, iterators, generators presented by Ned Batchelder Python's Class Development Toolkit by Raymond Hettinger (a Python core developer) Given the referenced implementation of Python is written in C and Python, a quick look at the source code will resolve many queries for experienced programmers as well. Overall, there is much less boilerplate code required in Python than typical C/C++ projects. There are a huge number of libraries/packages to use, many of which are written in C (such as NumPy) for performance. It can be useful to use some of the existing C/C++ code from Python rather than completely recoding in Python. The Cython project, offering C extensions for Python, might be worth looking at if there is a lot of C/C++ code to exploit.
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2
If you're interested in a full write up on my transition, I have decided to track my journey on a blog post. Here's the link to the post https://devforgestudio.com/switching-from-c-to-python/
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