:class: note

This page was migrated from the old MoinMoin-based wiki. Information may be outdated or no longer applicable. For current documentation, see [python.org](https://www.python.org).

Applications can be written almost completely in Python, but people are slow to change, so a considerable number of desktop applications are still written using C/C++ on Linux and Windows and a combination of C++ and Objective-C on Mac OS X. There has been a sustained trend of the use of Python to provide user automation or scripting, sometimes called macros, for C/C++ applications. This makes a lot of sense:

• Developers don't have to waste time and money inventing their own scripting language.

• Users don't have to learn a new automation language for every application they use, and can use Python books, exampling, and learning resources.

• Python is a Free Software (Open Source) solution and can be embedded and distributed without charge, so there are no royalty payments or licensing hassles

• Python is simple to learn, yet Python and its standard libraries are much more powerful than a proprietary language like VBScript

• Python is cross-platform

• tools like Cython and BoostPython make it easy to expose part or all of the application programming interface (API)

• Python scripting can be added to legacy projects just as well as new ones so developers don't have to abandon their old C/C++ code libraries

• On the Windows platform, Python has an excellent interface to COM (also known as ActiveX) and can be used to interface to almost any COM program (such as the MS-Office suite). Again, Python scripting can be added to enhance a project without change to the existing COM components. (See Win32All)

• PyObjC can be used to add scripting to any Cocoa app on Mac OS X

• Many Mac OS applications provide Apple event-based scripting interfaces, allowing them to be controlled from languages such as AppleScript, JavaScript OSA, Perl (via Mac::Glue), Python (via appscript), Tcl and UserTalk. (See MacPython)

For many of the same reasons, Python is often used as the "glue" language for a project. In the Java world, people are using Jython as the glue and scripting language.

💡 This page is not for listing those applications primarily built with Python. Try Applications for those types of apps, tools, and frameworks.

💡 Please keep wiki links as wiki links, use external links only if there is no existing page for the program.

* - [Acorn](http://flyingmeat.com/acorn/)
  - MacOS X
  - Image editor.
* - [Blender](http://www.blender.org/)
  - multi-platform
  - [OpenSource](../people/OpenSource) software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. [Blender Python API reference](http://www.blender.org/documentation/245PythonDoc/API_intro-module.html) and [tutorials](http://www.blender.org/tutorials-help/python/).
* - [Crystal Space](http://crystal.sourceforge.net/)
  - multi-platform
  - [OpenSource](../people/OpenSource) 3D SDK
* - [GIMP](http://www.gimp.org/)
  - multi-platform, GTK
  - GNU Image Manipulation Program. [PyGimp](http://www.daa.com.au/~james/software/pygimp/) is a package that allows people to write plug-ins for Gimp on Python rather than Script-Fu (Scheme), Perl, Tcl or C.
* - [SideFX Houdini](http://www.sidefx.com)
  -
  - Professional 3D animation and visual effects software
* - [Inkscape](http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/PythonEffectTutorial)
  - multi-platform
  - Scalable Vector Graphics editor
* - [irrlicht](http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/)
  - multi-platform
  - The Irrlicht Engine is an open source high performance realtime 3D engine written and usable in C++ and also available for .NET languages. It is completely cross-platform, using D3D, OpenGL and its own software renderer, and has all of the state-of-the-art features which can be found in commercial 3d engines.
* - [Autodesk Maya](http://www.autodesk.com/us/maya/docs/Maya85/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=DeveloperResources&file=Introduction_to_Maya_Python_API.html)
  -
  - 3D modeling, animation, effects, and rendering program.
* - [Open Inventor](http://oss.sgi.com/projects/inventor/)
  - multi-platform
  - Object-oriented 3D toolkit. [Pivy](http://pivy.tammura.at/) is the Python binding for Open Inventor. Check out the [Pycon paper on Pivy](http://www.python.org/pycon/dc2004/papers/47/pycon-pivy-paper.html).
* - [Poser](http://www.curiouslabs.com/)
  - Windows and Mac OS X
  - 3D character animation tool
* - [Vue Infinite](http://www.e-onsoftware.com/Products/vue5infinite/)
  - Multi-platform
  - Vue is e-on software\'s award-winning, complete 3D studio to create, render and animate ultra-realistic 3D natural environments.
* - [Zeno](http://www.cgw.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications::Article&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=25375C2E874C44A29BFB7FDF86F4FD75)
  -
  - Internal graphics pipeline used by Industrial Light & Magic.

• Pyrex -- now superceded by Cython

• SWIG (SimplifiedWrapperAndInterfaceGenerator)

• BoostPython and Boost.Python (official page)

• PyObjC (Mac OS X)

• SIP

• Devs Using Python to Boost Integration - In this two-part interview, Martelli offers Win32, Java and .NET devs some useful perspectives on Python, and how Python scripting can extend the integration capabilities of their Win32, ASP.Net, Java and C/C++ applications.

• Embedding Python in Multi-Threaded C/C++ Applications in LinuxJournal

• Building Hybrid Systems with Boost.Python

• Integrating Python, C and C++, presented at the ACCU conference by Duncan Booth, and his conference slides

• PythonEditors

• Organizations and Apps using Python

• http://www.thinkware.se/cgi-bin/thinki.cgi/PythonUsers

• Game Scripting in Python

• Humongous Games

• IntegratingPythonWithOtherLanguages

After adding Panda3D and Open Inventor I've started to wonder whether those really qualify as apps the way I originally envisioned this list? Perhaps we should have a separate page for C/C++ libraries, frameworks, etc. that have Python bindings? That would include frameworks like GTK, QT, and WxWidgets which have popular Python bindings. Regardless, all the Python bindings available for popular C/C++ tools and frameworks shows the agility of Python. There are great benefits to adding Python bindings to existing C/C++ (and Java) code bases so that you can leverage the power and flexibility of Python without abandoning an existing code base or giving up the speed of C/C++ code. In these cases, Python is a complement rather than a complete replacement for another programming language. -- KevinAltis