[Distutils] Re: distutils?- Borland Extensions

Gordon Williams g_will@cyberus.ca
Thu Oct 26 08:51:45 2000


If you want to use distutils with Borland to compile extensions to work with
the MS binary distribution you will have to have some way of using the
COFF2OMF import library conversion tool on the python20.lib file.  We need
to link with the converted library and not the python20.lib which is
supplied with the distribution.  (See the instructions about mypylib.lib)

While I can see potential uses for distutils for distributing code across
multiple platforms it appears to be an extra level of complication for
someone who it doing it for internal use or distributing to only one
platform (e.g. windows).  Maybe it is very easy to setup and use but from
the amount of documentation I think there is a bit of a learning curve.
When I distribute programs I use Gordon's Installer to make a standalone
package with python, gui and all the scripts and .pyd files.  That way I
know that there will not be any incompatibilities with old versions, missing
parts, etc.  This method is not suitable for everyone though.

If you get distutils to work with Borland to make extensions you can send me
a copy (maybe using one of the examples that I give in the package) so I can
have a look.

Regards,

Gordon Williams




----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph VanAndel" <vanandel@ucar.edu>
To: "Gordon Williams" <g_will@cyberus.ca>
Cc: <gward@python.net>; <Distutils-SIG@python.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2000 11:08 PM
Subject: Re: distutils?


> re: CREATING PYTHON EXTENSIONS USING BORLAND'S FREE COMPILER
> http://www.cyberus.ca/~g_will/pyExtenDL.shtml
>
> (I'm copying Greg Ward and the distutils-sig to see if we can't build
> cooperate here.)
>
> Gordon Williams wrote:
>
> >
> > This is really a tutorial plus a few other things rather than a
"package".
> > It is for creating extensions using the Borland compiler that can be
used
> > with the Microsoft compiled standard distribution.  Maybe this wasn't
clear
> > in the [ANN]?
> >
> > Download it and have a look.  I'm not familiar with distutils (I just
had a
> > quick read) but I don't think that it is appropriate.  If you think that
> > distutils should be used please get back to me.
>
> Gordon:
> You've written some nice instructions on how to obtain and install the
> Borland free compiler.  You provide instructions on how to customize
> batch files to compile and link extensions on Windows.
>
> Actually, 'distutils' is precisely designed to build extensions.  Rather
> than .bat scripts, you describe how to build your extension in a
> 'setup.py' file.  The advantage of using distutils is that it can
> compile your code on multiple platforms, with a minimum amount of
> machine dependencies in the script.  And of course, distutils ships
> standard with Python 2.0.
>
> distutils now works with the Microsoft Visual C compiler.  There was
> some work done on using the free Borland compiler, but I don't know if
> it was finished.
>
> Greg (and the distutils gang) - is the free Borland compiler support for
> Windows working at present?
>