Are there any downsides in Python to using a library that is just a binding to a C library? Does that hurt the portability of your application? Anything else I should look out for?
Of course using a C library hurts portability. It also prohibites you (in general) to use Jython or IronPython. I would only use a C library if I had no other option. This could happen if direct access to hardware is necessary or if special efficiency requirements apply.
What are the pros and cons in Python of using a c library vs a native python one