[EVALUATION] - E02 - Support for MinGW Open Source Compiler

[Ilias Lazaridis]

Martin v. Löwis wrote:
> Ilias Lazaridis wrote:
> 
>> My questions:
> 
> It appears that nobody has answered the questions, yet.
> 
>> a) Why does the Python Foundation not provide additionally a binary 
>> version, compiled with MinGW or another open-source compiler?
> 
> We don't have the resources to do that.

Should a professional developer take python serious?

I mean, if the team does not manage at least the foundation of a 
multi-target automated-build-process?

[targets need not to be supported directly by the python team. They 
could be added/managed/maintained by community members]

>> b) Why does the Python Foundation not ensure, that the python 
>> source-code is directly compilable with MinGW?
> 
> In the past, we did not do that because we did not know how to do it.
> With Python 2.4.1, we now had a contribution that should allow direct
> compilation of extensions using MingW.

I'm refering to compile the main python source-code with MigGW.

[As a result, compilation of extensions under MinGW becomes trivial]

>> c) Why are the following efforts not _directly_ included in the python 
>> source code base?
>>
>> http://jove.prohosting.com/iwave/ipython/pyMinGW.html
> 
> I believe this was because it was never contributed to Python.

ok

You should possibly engourage the author to create an collaborative project.

>> d) Is it really neccessary that I dive into such adventures, to be 
>> able to do the most natural thing like: "developing python extensions 
>> with MinGW"?
>>
>> http://starship.python.net/crew/kernr/mingw32/Notes.html
> 
> No. These instructions are outdated.

ok

[the author has placed a remark now, avoiding this way further 
missunderstandings.]

>> e) Is there any official statement available regarding the msvcr71.dll 
>> and other MS licensing issues?
>>
>> [see several threads "[Python-Dev] Is msvcr71.dll re-redistributable?"]
>>
>> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-dev/2005-February/thread.html
> 
> No, there isn't.

Seeing the discussions which raise around this topic, I think the 
foundation should provide an official statement [e.g. contact MS to get 
an official statement].

>> f) Are there any official (Python Foundation) statements / rationales 
>> available, which explain why the MinGW compiler is unsupported, 
>> although parts of the community obviously like to use it?
>>
>> http://groups-beta.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/msg/dc3474e6c8053336
> 
> The official statement is that the MingW compiler is supported, indeed.

Thus the official statement should be possibly corrected.

  * Compiling Python source-code under MinGW is not directly supported.
  * Compliling extensions under MinGW leads possibly to problems.

> Regards,
> Martin

.

-- 
http://lazaridis.com