[Python-Dev] Linux Python linking with G++? (original) (raw)

David Abrahams dave at boost-consulting.com
Sun Jul 10 15:14:04 CEST 2005

"Martin v. Löwis" <martin at v.loewis.de> writes:

I don't believe any systems require it. I realize you have said otherwise, but after years of working with Boost.Python I'm very familiar with the issues of dynamic linking and C/C++ interoperability on a wide variety of platforms, and I'm not convinced by your assertion. If such a system exists, it should be easy for someone to point me at it, and show that something breaks. I well remember that gcc 2.5.8 on Linux a.out required this sort of setup.

Sorry, a.out? Isn't that the default name a C compiler gives to the executable it builds on Unix? Is it also (part of) the name of an OS?

Dynamic linking was not supported at all on that system (atleast not in a way where users could easily write shared libraries themselves). Rebuilding the Python interpreter was the only option to integrate additional modules.

Understood, and I retract my former incredulity. I believe HP-UX requires it, and I believe that some systems where you have to link in extension modules explicitly require it. But the "--with-cxx if configure says you can get away with it" behavior is hurting on a major platform: ELF Linux.

-- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com

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