A test project wrapping modern C++ with Python using setuptools (Python), CMake (C++), pybind11 (hybrid), GoogleTest (C++), and unittest (Python)
CMake provides cross-platform compilation of C++ projects with a variety of compilers (e.g., gcc, clang, Apple clang, and MSVC). Building and linking the pybind11 and GoogleTest headers is included in our CMakeLists.txt build file. The file is run by the setup.py file, which uses setuptools to specify the Python building process. Compiling the C++ code, linking it to Python, and running C++ and Python tests are all accomplished by running a single command:
python setup.py test
While C++ tests are specified using GoogleTest, Python tests utilize the included unittest library. Additionally, Python code in setup.py moves the compiled C++ test binary to the bin/ folder and automatically runs the C++ tests as well as the Python tests. Separate C++ and Python tests are run to isolate errors.
Wrapping modern C++ code in Python provides high-level high-performance code, a sort of have-your-cake-and-eat-it for programmers concerned with performance. Languages such as Julia and Numba pursue a similar strategy using the LLVM compiler infrastructure.
Added complexity and code duplication, which pybind11 minimizes compared to other approaches. While CMake is also complex, it greatly simplifies cross-platform support.