How to teach your language to Python (with CPython!)

Abstract

Python is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, but understanding how it works under the hood can be a challenge. Even though it is open source, there are very few accessible resources to explore CPython—its reference implementation in C—and even fewer if English is not your first language. But what if, instead of writing `if`, we could write `si`? What if `print()` became `imprimir()`? And what if, while transforming Python into Spanish, we learned how Python itself is built? In this talk, we’ll explore what CPython is and how to compile it, why Python is written in C instead of Python, and how its grammar and parser work. Finally, we’ll put this knowledge into action by changing Python’s keywords into Spanish—`if` becomes `si`, `for` becomes `para`, and `while becomes `mientras`. By learning how CPython works internally, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why certain things work (and why some errors happen), experiment with new language features, create your own extensions, and maybe even contribute back to CPython itself. And although it may sound intimidating, CPython is not an untouchable project—you’ll see that it’s more approachable than you think. While the examples in this talk are in Spanish, the approach can be adapted to *any* natural language, including **yours**! This talk is aimed at Python users with intermediate knowledge who are curious about how the language is implemented. No prior experience with C, compilers, or language theory is required—just a willingness to learn something new.

Speakers