
Python/C API Reference Manual
*****************************

Release:
   3.1

Date:
   March 20, 2010

This manual documents the API used by C and C++ programmers who want
to write extension modules or embed Python.  It is a companion to
*Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter*, which describes the
general principles of extension writing but does not document the API
functions in detail.

* Introduction
  * Include Files
  * Objects, Types and Reference Counts
  * Exceptions
  * Embedding Python
  * Debugging Builds
* The Very High Level Layer
* Reference Counting
* Exception Handling
  * Exception Objects
  * Standard Exceptions
* Utilities
  * Operating System Utilities
  * System Functions
  * Process Control
  * Importing Modules
  * Data marshalling support
  * Parsing arguments and building values
  * String conversion and formatting
  * Reflection
* Abstract Objects Layer
  * Object Protocol
  * Number Protocol
  * Sequence Protocol
  * Mapping Protocol
  * Iterator Protocol
  * Buffer Protocol
* Concrete Objects Layer
  * Fundamental Objects
  * Numeric Objects
  * Sequence Objects
  * Mapping Objects
  * Other Objects
* Initialization, Finalization, and Threads
  * Thread State and the Global Interpreter Lock
  * Asynchronous Notifications
  * Profiling and Tracing
  * Advanced Debugger Support
* Memory Management
  * Overview
  * Memory Interface
  * Examples
* Object Implementation Support
  * Allocating Objects on the Heap
  * Common Object Structures
  * Type Objects
  * Number Object Structures
  * Mapping Object Structures
  * Sequence Object Structures
  * Buffer Object Structures
  * Supporting Cyclic Garbage Collection