cppy

What it is and what it does

Cppy is a header-only C++ library designed to reduce boilerplate when writing Python extension modules in C++. Its core contribution is a PyObject smart pointer that automatically handles Python's reference counting semantics, eliminating manual Py_INCREF and Py_DECREF calls and reducing a common source of memory leaks in C++ extensions. The library also provides convenience methods for typical object operations, making the C++ code more idiomatic and less error-prone.

The package is distributed as a pure Python wheel containing the C++ headers, so installation is straightforward and has no compiled dependencies. It supports modern Python versions and is actively maintained. Developers use it by including the header in their C++ extension code and leveraging the smart pointer and utility methods to write cleaner, safer extension modules.

Use it for:

• Writing Python extension modules in C++ where automatic reference counting reduces memory management errors.
• Building performance-critical Python libraries that need C++ implementation with less boilerplate.
• Simplifying PyObject manipulation in C++ code by using convenience methods instead of raw CPython API calls.
• Maintaining C++ extensions across multiple Python versions with a consistent, version-agnostic wrapper.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Cppy is a C++ header library that simplifies writing Python extension modules by providing a PyObject smart pointer that automatically manages reference counting and offers convenience methods for common object operations.

Yes, if you are writing C++ Python extensions. Cppy is actively maintained, has no security vulnerabilities, uses a permissive BSD license, and solves a real pain point in extension development. The low install friction makes it a practical choice. If you are not writing C++ extensions, it has no value.

Install

cppy on PyPI

pip install cppy

uv add cppy

poetry add cppy

Installing cppy

Before you install

Low install friction with a pure wheel distribution. The package is actively maintained with recent commits and supports Python 3.7 through 3.13, though it requires setuptools as a runtime dependency.

License in practice

BSD permissive license allows use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions, requiring only copyright notice and disclaimer retention.

Quickstart

# Install cppy
pip install cppy

# In your C++ extension code, include the header:
#include "cppy/cppy.h"

// Use the PyObject smart pointer:
cppy::py_ptr obj(PyList_New(0));

Requires a C++ compiler and Python development headers to build C++ extensions that use cppy.

Verify before relying

• Whether cppy provides additional convenience methods beyond reference counting that are commonly used in extension development.
• Performance characteristics or overhead compared to direct CPython API calls.
• Compatibility with alternative C++ binding frameworks or whether cppy is typically used standalone.

Package facts

Evidence: cppy-1.3.1-py3-none-any.whl

Tags

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