Last time we looked at how to write a server application in C++, and call it from Python. This time, we’ll do things the other way around: implementing a service in Python, and calling from C++.
Month: August 2016
Using Apache Thrift for Python & C++
Apache Thrift is a software framework for cross-language: providing what is essentially a remote-procedure call interface to enable a client application to access services from a service — which can be written in the-same, or another language. Thrift supports all of the major languages that you’d expect to use: including Python, C++, Java, JavaScript / Node.js, and Ruby.
Unfortunately, whilst there are quite a few tutorials on how to use Thrift: some of them concentrate on explaining how Thrift is working behind the scenes (which is important, of course): rather than on how to use it. There also aren’t that many that concentrate on using C++. So having spent some time working through some of the tutorials (and the book Learning Apache Thrift), I though I’d have a go at writing something of a practical guide. I’m quite deliberately not going to focus on how Thrift works: if you want that, let me suggest the Apache Thrift – Quick Tutorial. I’m also going to assume that you have Thrift installed on your computer already (again, there are lots of sets of instruction on how to do this — Google will be your friend), and that you’re using a Linux or MacOS computer. You should be able to follow-along with most of this if you’re using Windows: but there will be a few differences, especially when it comes to compiling C++ files.