Python iOS Support

This is a meta-package for building a version of Python that can be embedded into an iOS project.

It works by downloading, patching, and building a fat binary static libffi.a and libPython.a, and packaging them both in iOS Framework format.

The site-packages has the Rubicon Objective-C library pre-installed. This library enables you to have direct access to the iOS system libraries from within the Python environment.

The binaries support the $(ARCHS_STANDARD_32_BIT) set - that is, armv7 and armv7s. This should enable the code to run on:

• iPhone
  • iPhone 3GS,
  • iPhone 4
  • iPhone 4s
  • iPhone 5
  • iPhone 5s
• iPad
  • iPad 2
  • iPad (3rd gen)
  • iPad (4th gen)
  • iPad Air
• iPad Mini
  • iPad Mini (1st gen)
  • iPad Mini (2nd gen)
• iPod Touch
  • iPod Touch (4th gen)
  • iPod Touch (5th gen)

This repository branch builds a packaged version of Python 2.7.1. Other Python versions are available by cloning other branches of the main repository.

Pre-built Frameworks

Pre-built versions of the frameworks can be downloaded, and added to your iOS project.

Building Frameworks

Alternatively, to build the frameworks on your own, download/clone this repository, and then in the root directory, and run:

$ make

This should:

1. Download the original source packages
2. Patch them as required for iOS compatibility
3. Build the packages as iOS frameworks.

The build products will be in the build directory. You'll need to add all these frameworks (not just Python.framework) to your project.

Installation

The Python Interpreter can be installed into your iOS project by following these steps:

1. Build/download the frameworks as mentioned above.

2. Add the frameworks built/downloaed (Python.framework & ffi.framework) to your project by dragging them from Finder into your xCode Project (check "Copy items if needed".)

3. In your project organiser, right click the Python.framework and select "Show in Finder". Navigate to Versions > 2.7 > Resources. Drag the two files ("include" & "lib") into your project (uncheck "Copy files if needed", uncheck your project as a target)

4. In Build Phases in your project settings link the following libraries:

   • Python.framework
   • ffi.framework
   • libsqlite3.dylib
   • libz.dylib

5. In Build Phases in your project settings add a New Run Script Phase. This script will copy the necessary Python files into your app binary. If you find that your app compiles/archives, but fails to run correctly on devices, ensure that the paths are correct for your project. Leave the shell as /bin/sh and paste the following script in:

   rsync -pvtrL --exclude .hg --exclude .svn --exclude .git $PROJECT_DIR/Python.framework/Resources/lib $BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR/$CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH
   rsync -pvtrL --exclude .hg --exclude .svn --exclude .git $PROJECT_DIR/Python.framework/Resources/include $BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR/$CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH
   rsync -pvtrL --exclude .hg --exclude .svn --exclude .git $PROJECT_DIR/app $BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR/$CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH
   rsync -pvtrL --exclude .hg --exclude .svn --exclude .git $PROJECT_DIR/app_packages $BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR/$CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH
   

6. In main.m, add the following imports:

   #import <Python/Python.h>
   #include <dlfcn.h>

7. Update your main function in main.m as follows:

   @autoreleasepool {
           int ret = 0;
   
   #if TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR
           putenv("TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR=1");
   #else
           putenv("TARGET_IPHONE=1");
   #endif
   
           //Setting the Python environment
           Py_SetProgramName(argv[0]);
   
           NSString *resourcePath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath];
   
           Py_SetPythonHome((char *)[resourcePath UTF8String]);
   
           Py_Initialize();
           PySys_SetArgv(argc, argv);
   
           // If other modules are using thread, we need to initialize them before.
           PyEval_InitThreads();
   
           @try
           {
               // Start the Python app
               ret = UIApplicationMain(argc, argv, nil, NSStringFromClass([AppDelegate class]));
           }
           @catch (NSException *exception)
           {
               NSLog(@"Error running Python application: %@", exception.reason);
           }
   
           Py_Finalize();
           return ret;
       }

Running

• To execute a Python script use PyRun_SimplString(); or similar in your code.
• If you embed the scripts in the app you can add the scripts to your project ("/app/ProjectName/main.py" in this case), and then use this code to run the script:

const char * prog = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"app/ProjectName/main" ofType:@"py"] cStringUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];
FILE* fd = fopen(prog, "r");
if (fd) {
    PyRun_SimpleFileEx(fd, prog, 1);
}

Acknowledgements

This work draws on the groundwork provided by Kivy's iOS packaging tools.

The approach to framework packaging is drawn from Jeff Verkoeyen, and Ernesto García's tutorials.