The magic of Nuitka: Transforming Python programs into efficient C language applications

Nuitka is a Python compiler that can turn .py files into real binary programs (executable files or dynamic libraries). Traditional Python programs rely on an interpreter to run (for example: python3 script.py), but with Nuitka, we can compile Python scripts into a standalone .exe (Windows) or ELF file (Linux), which runs faster and is more secure (less prone to casual reverse engineering).

Project address: Nuitka GitHub

Features#

Nuitka has the following features:

Performance Improvement: Converts Python to C, then compiles it to machine code, running faster than interpreted execution (especially for compute-intensive code).
Cross-Platform: Supports Windows, Linux, macOS.
Good Compatibility: Almost supports all Python syntax and libraries (including third-party libraries).
Code Protection: More secure after being compiled into binary, unlike .py scripts which are easier to view the source code.
Can be directly packaged into a single executable file: Users do not need to install and configure a Python environment.

In summary: Faster, safer, and can "generate executable files with one click".

Installation#

Installation is very simple, just one command:

pip3 install nuitka

If you find pip slow in China, you can add the Tsinghua source:

pip install nuitka -i https://pypi.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/simple

Note: Nuitka depends on the system's C compiler, so you need to configure the environment in advance:

Windows: Install [Visual Studio Build Tools] or MinGW.
Linux / macOS: Generally comes with gcc or clang, which can be used directly.

Example#

Let's first write a simple example:

def say_hello(name):
    print(f"Hello, {name}! Welcome to using Nuitka!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    say_hello("Pythoner")

Now we compile with Nuitka:

nuitka --standalone --onefile hello.py

Here, standalone means packaging into a standalone runnable directory, without relying on an external Python environment; onefile means generating a single executable file. After compilation, you will get a hello.exe (Windows) or hello (Linux, macOS). You can use it directly.

Next, let's write a practical example, such as the Fibonacci sequence:

def fib(n):
    if n <= 2:
        return 1
    return fib(n-1) + fib(n-2)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    print(fib(35))

If you run it directly with the Python interpreter, it may take several seconds; but if you compile it with Nuitka and then run it, the speed will be significantly improved. Compute-intensive code is very suitable for compilation and execution with Nuitka.

Summary#

Nuitka is like a magical tool that turns Python into "real C programs". It is suitable for speeding up, protecting code, and packaging for distribution. If you often need to deliver Python programs to others and are worried that they do not have a Python environment or are afraid of source code leakage, then Nuitka is definitely worth a try.