[Python-Dev] Deciding on dbm API in setup.py

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Several packages provide a dbm-compatible API.  Currently, the code in
Python's setup.py hardcodes the order of consideration: ndbm, then gdbm,
then Berkeley DB.  While the APIs are compatible, the file formats are all
different as far as I know.  If you have ndbm but want to use Berkeley DB
format, you're stuck.  Right now editing setup.py is the only way to
influence the order.

I opened an issue on the bug tracker about this: 

    http://bugs.python.org/issue4587

It includes a patch which adds an optional environment variable
(PYDBMLIBORDER) which builders can use to override the order of the default
library checks.  I'm not sure that's the "correct" way to do this, but I'm
at a loss to figure out how else to do it.  Is it possible to easily add a
flag to setup.py, say --dbm-order=gdbm:bdb:ndbm?

If you've got any -- even passing -- interest in this, please read the issue
and add a comment if you feel so moved.

This grew out of a change to adapt to new gdbm library organization:

    http://bugs.python.org/issue4487

Unbeknownst to me, I apparently wound up fixing a previously reported issue
about the change:

    http://bugs.python.org/issue1167

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