Python C API: Using PyEval_EvalCode

Question

I'm trying to figure out how to use the Python interpreter from C, and I'm having trouble with PyEval_EvalCode. Basically, I'm writing a C function which takes in an arbitrary string of Python code, compiles it, executes it, and then prints out the result.

The problem is that when I print out the result, I always get None, even if the expression obviously doesn't evaluate to None.

Here is the code (with error checking and reference counting removed for clarity):

void eval(const char* s)
{
    PyCodeObject* code = (PyCodeObject*) Py_CompileString(s, "test", Py_file_input);
    PyObject* main_module = PyImport_AddModule("__main__");
    PyObject* global_dict = PyModule_GetDict(main_module);
    PyObject* local_dict = PyDict_New();
    PyObject* obj = PyEval_EvalCode(code, global_dict, local_dict);

    PyObject* result = PyObject_Str(obj);
    PyObject_Print(result, stdout, 0);
}

I tried calling this function with "5 + 5" as the input, and it displayed None. Am I using PyEval_EvalCode incorrectly?

Do we need to insert some Py_INCREF() / Py_DECREF() statements in the code above to avoid memory leaks ? — BrunoLevy
– BrunoLevy, Commented Jul 28, 2018 at 7:50

sterin · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 05:08:56Z

18

If you want to evaluate an expression, you need to use Py_eval_input as an argument to Py_CompileString.

My understanding of the matter is that:

Py_eval_input is equivalent to the built-in eval -- it evaluates an expression.
Py_file_input is equivalent to exec -- It executes Python code, but does not return anything.
Py_single_input evaluates an expression and prints its value -- used in the interpreter.

See here for more, but the documentation on this subject is weak.

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 5:08

sterin

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