[Python-3000] Windows: debug mode

["Martin v. Löwis"]

> Thus, I'm hereby proposing that we change this in Py3k so that Python's 
> debug mode does not mandate any ABI change anymore.

It seems people still debate what it is that you *actually* want. This
sentence suggests Christian's interpretation, i.e. you might be unaware
that the debug mode not only adds debug symbols, but also changes the
layout of objects. That is *very* useful, and should not be dropped.

> This means that a 
> programmer will be able to mixmatch release-mode extensions and compile-
> mode extensions, thus getting debuggability only of those extensions he 
> really cares.

Whereas this suggests Phillip's interpretation, i.e. you merely want
debug symbols on a single DLL.

You can get that today - just enable debug information for your 
extension module, and the compiler will emit the PDB files you need
for debugging.

> If people agree on this goal, I'm willing to actually implement it in the 
> Python core (there must be a change in the logic through which "_d" 
> extensions are picked up since they would become optional rather than 
> required) and everywhere else it might be needed (eg: distutils).

See above. Don't drop what Python calls the debug mode. Instead, just
learn to build your extension with debugging, for Python's release mode.

Regards,
Martin