Embedding Python in an iPhone app

Question

So it\'s a new millennium; Apple has waved their hand; it\'s now legal to include a Python interpreter in an iPhone (App Store) app.

How does one go about doing this

Answer 1

I've put a very rough script up on github that fetches and builds python2.6.5 for iPhone and simulator.

http://github.com/cobbal/python-for-iphone

Work in progress

Somewhat depressing update nearly 2 years later: (copied from README on github)

This project never really got python running on the iPhone to my satisfaction, and I can't recommend using it for any serious project at this stage.

Most notably missing is pyobjc support (which turns out to be much harder to port to iPhone since it relies on more platform-specific code)

Also missing is the ability to statically compile modules, (all are currently built as dylibs which works for development, but to my knowledge wouldn't be allowed in the App Store)

At this point this project is mostly meant to be a starting point for anyone smarter than me who wants to and can tackle the above issues.

I really wish it were practical to write apps entirely in Python, but at this point it seems impossible.