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Disassemble Python Bytecode and Match to CPython Source

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Understand the GIL and Write a C Extension That Releases It Write a CPython C Extension Module from Scratch

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Compiler

2.0s Limit 256MB

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Implementation

Write a C program documenting Python bytecode.

Requirements:

Define a bytecode instruction structure (opcode + argument)
Show a simple function's bytecode (e.g., def add(a, b): return a + b)
Implement a mini disassembler that prints opcode names
Document each instruction: LOAD_FAST, LOAD_FAST, BINARY_ADD, RETURN_VALUE
Show the stack state conceptually after each instruction
Print the bytecode in a format similar to Python's dis module
Explain how each opcode maps to CPython source behavior

Why This Matters

dis.dis() is a real, everyday CPython debugging tool — engineers use it to check whether a comprehension got optimized or to understand why a hot loop is slow, and since Python 3.11 it also reveals the specializing adaptive interpreter's quickened opcodes like LOAD_FAST_LOAD_FAST introduced by PEP 659. Building a mini disassembler here is the same exercise as reading real CPython bytecode dumps line by line.

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Validation Suite

main.c

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