Introduction
Cython is a compiler which compiles Python-like code files to C code. The resulting functions can then be imported into other Python scripts.
This method can be used to increase the execution speed of a Python script, particularly if the script uses for-loops.
The Python-like *.pyx script which provides the function must have have static C data types in order for the main Python script to gain full speed performance.
Installation
Cython can be installed on a Ubuntu system using the “Ubuntu Software Center.”
It is also bundled with the Enthought Python Distribution [EPD] and with Sage Notebook.
Steps
Using Cython consists of these steps:
1. Write a .pyx source file for the function
2. Write a setup.py file using the disutils function
3. Compile the source code in command-line mode using: python setup.py build_ext –inplace
4. Import the function into the main Python script and then run it
There are a few alternative compiler methods, but disutils is the most reliable from the author’s experience.
Examples
Tom Irvine
Vibrationdata Python 