Installing Python Modules

This document describes the Python Distribution Utilities (``Distutils'') from the end-user's point-of-view, describing how to extend the capabilities of a standard Python installation by building and installing third-party Python modules and extensions.

• 1 Introduction
  • 1.1 Best case: trivial installation
  • 1.2 The new standard: Distutils
• 2 Standard Build and Install
  • 2.1 Platform variations
  • 2.2 Splitting the job up
  • 2.3 How building works
  • 2.4 How installation works
• 3 Alternate Installation
  • 3.1 Alternate installation: the home scheme
  • 3.2 Alternate installation: Unix (the prefix scheme)
  • 3.3 Alternate installation: Windows (the prefix scheme)
• 4 Custom Installation
  • 4.1 Modifying Python's Search Path
• 5 Distutils Configuration Files
  • 5.1 Location and names of config files
  • 5.2 Syntax of config files
• 6 Building Extensions: Tips and Tricks
  • 6.1 Tweaking compiler/linker flags
  • 6.2 Using non-Microsoft compilers on Windows
    • 6.2.1 Borland C++
    • 6.2.2 GNU C / Cygwin / MinGW
• About this document ...

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Release 2.4b2, documentation updated on 13 November 2004.