Show HN: Transpilatron – an AI tool that converts Python code into C binaries

Transpilatron, a new AI tool, converts Python code into native C binaries without requiring C knowledge, achieving up to 58x speedups on benchmarks. The tool uses an AI agent to transpile Python projects to C, compiles them with -O2 or -O3 flags, and outputs fully static binaries with no runtime dependencies. It supports Linux and macOS, and is available via uv.

Write Python. Get a native C binary. No C knowledge required. uvx transpilatron your code.py | Benchmark | Python | C | Speedup | |---|---|---|---| | Sieve of Eratosthenes 10M numbers | 0.526s | 0.022s | 24x | | Selection sort 10K elements | 1.963s | 0.033s | 58x | Verified on the same machine. Same output. Fully static binaries. Benchmarker's PC: CPU: Ryzen 5 5500 Python 3.14 Zorin OS 18 transpilatron uses an AI agent to convert your Python project into C, compiles it using -O2 or -O3 flags , and hands you a native binary. No runtime, no interpreter, no dependencies. - Reads your Python entry file and follows all imports - Transpiles the full project to C - Writes a Makefile and compiles static linking for minimal, dynamic for usual - Drops the binary in out/ | Tool | Why | |---|---| | Note: You only need uv on your host machine. The AI agent automatically detects, installs, and configures all other development and verification dependencies like C compilers, make, valgrind, and system headers inside the build environment. Run without installing uvx transpilatron your code.py Or install globally uv tool install transpilatron On first run, the tool installs its dependencies and asks you to authenticate with poolside https://poolside.ai/ . Default mode usual — dynamic linking, libcurl, torch/tflite, web frameworks uvx transpilatron your code.py Minimal mode — fully static, raw sockets, no torch/tflite uvx transpilatron --minimal your code.py The binary lands at out/<your code . That's it. - Pure Python logic → idiomatic C - HTTP requests, urllib3 → raw BSD sockets minimal or libcurl usual - JSON → cJSON - Threading → pthreads - File I/O → POSIX syscalls - Multi-file projects → one binary - Detects and fixes common Python bugs during transpilation - Supports many major Python libraries with C extensions by using their C backends or alternatives - The system attempts to translate pure Python libraries as well - Web frameworks flask, fastapi, django → libmicrohttpd usual only - torch / tensorflow → libtorch / TFLite C API usual only | Mode | Default | Linking | HTTP | torch/tensorflow | Web Frameworks | Best for | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | minimal | Static only | Raw BSD sockets | Aborts with error | Not supported | Zero-dependency binaries for initramfs, scratch containers, embedded | | | usual | ✓ | Dynamic permitted | libcurl | libtorch / TFLite C API | libmicrohttpd | General use, speed + versatility | - Linux and macOS only - torch / tensorflow not supported under minimal mode - Some dynamic Python patterns metaclasses, heavy monkey-patching may not translate cleanly examples/ ├── sieve.py Prime number sieve — 24x speedup └── sort.py Selection sort — 58x speedup While tools like Nuitka and PyInstaller package the CPython interpreter and its dynamic standard libraries to guarantee compatibility, transpilatron completely strips the CPython runtime . By translating Python logic into pure, dependency-free C, it allows you to build single, fully static binaries that run in environments with zero external libraries. | Tool | Approach | CPython Runtime Dependency? | Fully Static Binaries? | Output Size | Ideal For | |---|---|---|---|---|---| transpilatron | Source-to-source C translation via LLM | No | Yes | < 1MB | CLI tools, microservices, serverless, initramfs, scratch containers, embedded | | Nuitka | Translates Python to C calling CPython APIs | Yes | No | ~30MB+ | Maximum CPython compatibility | | PyInstaller | Bundles Python interpreter + .pyc files | Yes | No | ~30MB - 100MB+ | Desktop app distribution | | Cython | Compiles Python/Cython to extension modules | Yes | No | N/A | Accelerating Python code | | PyPy | Alternative JIT interpreter | Yes | No | N/A | Long-running server workloads | uv https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/ is the fastest Python package manager on the planet. uvx lets you run any Python tool instantly without installing it. If you're not using uv yet, you should be. transpilatron was originally created to compile standalone initramfs boot scripts for Noodlix, a Python-only operating system — but works for many Python applications. minimal mode outputs fully static binaries. Runs even in initramfs. No dynamic linker required.