[python-win32] Why can I compile a C extension if I replace python25.lib with python25.dll?

[Michael Torrie]

Tim Roberts wrote:
> It makes a HUGE difference.  The gcc compiler in MinGW doesn't
> understand the Microsoft library format.  If you want to build
> extensions with MinGW, then you must build your Python from source,
> using MinGW.  You can't use a standard distribution.  (Well, you could
> use the Python that is available through Cygwin, I believe).

I've built python extensions in MingW before, against the stock
libpython.dll.  And it worked.  But there's a real potential for
problems as mingw typically links against an older version of the MS
standard C library.  Microsoft warns that mixing msvcrt versions is
dangerous.