Convert python modules into DLL file

Question

I am building a GUI using WPF on .NET Framework.I want to run python script (which uses modules like numpy, scipy ,etc) using C#. Now, I have two options.

1. Process p = new Process(); //by passing necessary parameters like "python.exe" and "filename.py"
2. Using IronPython

Using Method#1 is pretty much simpler but If I distribute this Application,then my End-User must have those python modules in the path specified by me in my Application. Using Method#2 I am facing problems with those python modules because they don't come with IronPython and I need DLL files of those modules. So is there any way to Convert Python Modules like numpy, scipy into DLL files?

Answer 1

You can use clr.CompileModules to turn the python files into dll ones. You can add all the files into a single dll by doing something like this:

from System import IO
from System.IO.Path import Combine

def walk(folder):
  for file in IO.Directory.GetFiles(folder):
    yield file
  for folder in IO.Directory.GetDirectories(folder):
    for file in walk(folder): yield file

folder = IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(__file__)
all_files = list(walk(Combine(folder, 'moduleName')))

import clr
clr.CompileModules(Combine(folder, "myDll.dll"), *all_files)

You can then add a reference to your dll by doing something like this:

import clr
import sys

sys.path.append(r"C:\Path\To\Dll")
clr.AddReference("myDll.dll")

I don't however know how to access the functions inside that dll. According to this, you can import it by doing import moduleName. This does not work for me though.

Sources: [add files to single dll] [reference dll]