RustPython · youknowone · Apr 30, 2025 · Apr 20, 2025
diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
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+# GitHub Copilot Instructions for RustPython
+
+This document provides guidelines for working with GitHub Copilot when contributing to the RustPython project.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+RustPython is a Python 3 interpreter written in Rust, implementing Python 3.13.0+ compatibility. The project aims to provide:
+
+- A complete Python-3 environment entirely in Rust (not CPython bindings)
+- A clean implementation without compatibility hacks
+- Cross-platform support, including WebAssembly compilation
+- The ability to embed Python scripting in Rust applications
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+- `src/` - Top-level code for the RustPython binary
+- `vm/` - The Python virtual machine implementation
+  - `builtins/` - Python built-in types and functions
+  - `stdlib/` - Essential standard library modules implemented in Rust, required to run the Python core
+- `compiler/` - Python compiler components
+  - `parser/` - Parser for converting Python source to AST
+  - `core/` - Bytecode representation in Rust structures
+  - `codegen/` - AST to bytecode compiler
+- `Lib/` - CPython's standard library in Python (copied from CPython)
+- `derive/` - Rust macros for RustPython
+- `common/` - Common utilities
+- `extra_tests/` - Integration tests and snippets
+- `stdlib/` - Non-essential Python standard library modules implemented in Rust (useful but not required for core functionality)
+- `wasm/` - WebAssembly support
+- `jit/` - Experimental JIT compiler implementation
+- `pylib/` - Python standard library packaging (do not modify this directory directly - its contents are generated automatically)
+
+## Important Development Notes
+
+### Running Python Code
+
+When testing Python code, always use RustPython instead of the standard `python` command:
+
+```bash
+# Use this instead of python script.py
+cargo run -- script.py
+
+# For interactive REPL
+cargo run
+
+# With specific features
+cargo run --features ssl
+
+# Release mode (recommended for better performance)
+cargo run --release -- script.py
+```
+
+### Comparing with CPython
+
+When you need to compare behavior with CPython or run test suites:
+
+```bash
+# Use python command to explicitly run CPython
+python my_test_script.py
+
+# Run RustPython
+cargo run -- my_test_script.py
+```
+
+### Working with the Lib Directory
+
+The `Lib/` directory contains Python standard library files copied from the CPython repository. Important notes:
+
+- These files should be edited very conservatively
+- Modifications should be minimal and only to work around RustPython limitations
+- Tests in `Lib/test` often use one of the following markers:
+  - Add a `# TODO: RUSTPYTHON` comment when modifications are made
+  - `unittest.skip("TODO: RustPython <reason>")`
+  - `unittest.expectedFailure` with `# TODO: RUSTPYTHON <reason>` comment
+
+### Testing
+
+```bash
+# Run Rust unit tests
+cargo test --workspace --exclude rustpython_wasm
+
+# Run Python snippets tests
+cd extra_tests
+pytest -v
+
+# Run the Python test module
+cargo run --release -- -m test
+```
+
+### Determining What to Implement
+
+Run `./whats_left.py` to get a list of unimplemented methods, which is helpful when looking for contribution opportunities.
+
+## Coding Guidelines
+
+### Rust Code
+
+- Follow the default rustfmt code style (`cargo fmt` to format)
+- Use clippy to lint code (`cargo clippy`)
+- Follow Rust best practices for error handling and memory management
+- Use the macro system (`pyclass`, `pymodule`, `pyfunction`, etc.) when implementing Python functionality in Rust
+
+### Python Code
+
+- Follow PEP 8 style for custom Python code
+- Use ruff for linting Python code
+- Minimize modifications to CPython standard library files
+
+## Integration Between Rust and Python
+
+The project provides several mechanisms for integration:
+
+- `pymodule` macro for creating Python modules in Rust
+- `pyclass` macro for implementing Python classes in Rust
+- `pyfunction` macro for exposing Rust functions to Python
+- `PyObjectRef` and other types for working with Python objects in Rust
+
+## Common Patterns
+
+### Implementing a Python Module in Rust
+
+```rust
+#[pymodule]
+mod mymodule {
+    use rustpython_vm::prelude::*;
+
+    #[pyfunction]
+    fn my_function(value: i32) -> i32 {
+        value * 2
+    }
+
+    #[pyattr]
+    #[pyclass(name = "MyClass")]
+    #[derive(Debug, PyPayload)]
+    struct MyClass {
+        value: usize,
+    }
+
+    #[pyclass]
+    impl MyClass {
+        #[pymethod]
+        fn get_value(&self) -> usize {
+            self.value
+        }
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Adding a Python Module to the Interpreter
+
+```rust
+vm.add_native_module(
+    "my_module_name".to_owned(),
+    Box::new(my_module::make_module),
+);
+```
+
+## Building for Different Targets
+
+### WebAssembly
+
+```bash
+# Build for WASM
+cargo build --target wasm32-wasip1 --no-default-features --features freeze-stdlib,stdlib --release
+```
+
+### JIT Support
+
+```bash
+# Enable JIT support
+cargo run --features jit
+```
+
+### SSL Support
+
+```bash
+# Enable SSL support
+cargo run --features ssl
+```
+
+## Documentation
+
+- Check the [architecture document](architecture/architecture.md) for a high-level overview
+- Read the [development guide](DEVELOPMENT.md) for detailed setup instructions
+- Generate documentation with `cargo doc --no-deps --all`
+- Online documentation is available at [docs.rs/rustpython](https://docs.rs/rustpython/)