Python Extension Building Network

[kyosohma at gmail.com]

On Nov 9, 8:36 am, Tim Golden <m... at timgolden.me.uk> wrote:
> kyoso... at gmail.com wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > I am trying to get a small group of volunteers together to create
> > Windows binaries for any Python extension developer that needs them,
> > much like the package/extension builders who volunteer their time to
> > create Linux RPMs.
>
> > The main thing I need are people willing to test the binaries to make
> > sure the extension is stable. This would require installing the binary
> > and probably downloading the source too to get the developer's test
> > code. I've been able to get some of the tests to run great while
> > others are pretty finicky and some extensions don't come with tests.
> > It would be nice to know which extensions are most in need of this
> > too.
>
> > While I can create the binaries on my own for a while, if I get too
> > many requests, there will be a backlog, so it would be nice to have
> > help with that too. I'm also looking for knowledgeable people to be
> > sounding boards (i.e. give advice).
>
> > Developers: all I would require is a request, a link to the source,
> > and a well-written setup.py file for a cross-platform extension.
>
> > You can find the few that I've already done here:http://
> >www.pythonlibrary.org/python_modules.htm
>
> > I have also posted a way to create the binaries using the MinGW
> > compiler. I have VS2003 installed on my PC and MinGW is installed in a
> > VM, so I can compile the extensions both ways.
>
> Mike, this is great news. Whenever I have time <laughs, but
> means it sincerely> I'll try to run through some of the modules
> you've compiled.
>
> As a slight aside, the main problem I've found when I've tried
> to build extensions (and I've been doing it recently with AVBin and
> Pyglet) is that Windows just doesn't have the build environment, the
> directory structures, the env vars and all that that a ./configure or
> even a python setup.py install sometimes expects. eg if I were to
> offer to build a MySQL extension (as someone who doesn't use MySQL
> and wouldn't have the source libs installed if I did) there would
> be a fair bit of pain to go through. You've obviously gone through
> that pain barrier for at least some of the extensions on the modules
> page. Was it tough?

The hardest part was finding accurate information. Most people on the
user groups have been unhelpful or sarcastic. I had better luck
contacting developers directly who had already created Windows
binaries. They didn't mind giving me some pointers.

The directions for MinGW were usually only partially correct. So I
went through the two sets of directions I found (links on the site)
and mixed and matched until I got it right.

There are no directions on how to use Visual Studio 2003 that I've
found, just some old free edition. those directions were incompatible
with VS2003. I'll post VS2003's correct usage eventually, but it's
basically just installing it and then using distutils.

>
> TJG
>
> (PS SendKeys link on this page is dead:http://www.pythonlibrary.org/automation.htm)

I've noticed some of the stuff I thought I uploaded seems to have gone
MIA. I'll get that fixed tonight. Thanks for the bug report and offer
of help.

Mike