[Python-Dev] Windows package for new SSL package? (original) (raw)

Paul Moore p.f.moore at gmail.com
Thu Sep 13 14:21:47 CEST 2007

On 13/09/2007, David Bolen <db3l.net at gmail.com> wrote:

That's a fair point - my comments are all related to the standard Python distribution and building extensions with the VS.NET compiler (including the binary installer I had built for Bill). [...] If we're talking about the construction of binary Windows installers, I'd just suggest that they get built as the built-in SSL module does, including the static linking with a pure Windows OpenSSL build, which is a bit simpler for the typical end user and has no other external requirements.

OK. Building with mingw is a bit of a hobby horse of mine, as the requirement for the (expensive) VS.NET compiler forces many users to rely on binary builds. I know other alternatives can be made to work, but it's often too much pain to bother. I'd much rather extensions which can be built using free tools, support actually doing so out of the box.

Of course, that certainly doesn't stop a person who has already set up their system for using mingw for extensions from doing their own compilation, although it does raise a question as to whether the setup.py would need some further adjustments to cover that case most cleanly.

And that's my point. I'd rather work to ensure that mingw works out of the box, than leave things requiring VS.NET for a clean build. It's not relevant here, but I've certainly been in a situation with other extensions where I can't upgrade a Python install because the distributors of a particular extension haven't produced a build for the new version yet (cough mod_python cough) - and I live in fear of support for some extensions dying, as I'll then have to move away from them or stop upgrading Python.

Anyway, philosophy aside, I'll try to make some time in the next few days to get a working setup.py for the SSL package using mingw. Hopefully, Bill will then integrate this and we'll have mingw as a supported option.

Paul.

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