I'm really loving Python because it's super easy to learn and lets me whip up code quickly, but I've hit a wall with performance—it's just slow for the big number crunching I need to do. On the other hand, I want to delve into C because I know it's fast, but the syntax and complexity are a huge barrier for me. I was thinking maybe there's a way to automatically convert my Python code into C so I can keep using the familiar Python style while getting the speed of C. Does anyone know if there's a tool for that? Or if not, how would I go about building one myself? Are there other programming languages that strike a balance between Python's simplicity and C's speed?
5 Answers
For those hardcore speed needs, remember that libraries like NumPy can really speed things up by running code in C under the hood. Maybe start your project in Python and switch to a compiled language later?
Have you tried Cython? It's a tool that can help you compile Python-like code to C, making it faster. Also, Nim is cool—it’s easier and can compile to efficient C code, so definitely check that out.
If you want something that compiles to machine code, check this out: PyPy and Cython can be lifesavers. Plus, the Clang REPL could help you try out C easier without diving in completely.
Honestly, I think Python's probably fast enough for most of what you're trying to do, unless you're dealing with super heavy computations. Maybe you just need to review your code to optimize it? I know I've had that experience—what seemed slow often turned out to be a small inefficiency in the code.
Right?! I think someone mentioned Python being 50-100 times slower than C, but optimizing the code can drastically improve performance.
Honestly, I think C is easier than Python—just give it a chance! And yeah, not all C is optimized, so you could end up with slow code too. Maybe focus on Python optimization techniques instead?
Totally! I remember spending days trying to speed up something that ended up taking a fraction of the time with some simple tweaks.