.. _api-reference:

*************
API Reference
*************


:mod:`distutils.core` --- Core Distutils functionality
======================================================

.. module:: distutils.core
   :synopsis: The core Distutils functionality


The :mod:`distutils.core` module is the only module that needs to be installed
to use the Distutils. It provides the :func:`setup` (which is called from the
setup script). Indirectly provides the  :class:`distutils.dist.Distribution` and
:class:`distutils.cmd.Command` class.


.. function:: setup(arguments)

   The basic do-everything function that does most everything you could ever ask
   for from a Distutils method. See XXXXX

   The setup function takes a large number of arguments. These are laid out in the
   following table.

   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | argument name      | value                          | type                                                        |
   +====================+================================+=============================================================+
   | *name*             | The name of the package        | a string                                                    |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *version*          | The version number of the      | See :mod:`distutils.version`                                |
   |                    | package                        |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *description*      | A single line describing the   | a string                                                    |
   |                    | package                        |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *long_description* | Longer description of the      | a string                                                    |
   |                    | package                        |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *author*           | The name of the package author | a string                                                    |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *author_email*     | The email address of the       | a string                                                    |
   |                    | package author                 |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *maintainer*       | The name of the current        | a string                                                    |
   |                    | maintainer, if different from  |                                                             |
   |                    | the author                     |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *maintainer_email* | The email address of the       |                                                             |
   |                    | current maintainer, if         |                                                             |
   |                    | different from the author      |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *url*              | A URL for the package          | a URL                                                       |
   |                    | (homepage)                     |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *download_url*     | A URL to download the package  | a URL                                                       |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *packages*         | A list of Python packages that | a list of strings                                           |
   |                    | distutils will manipulate      |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *py_modules*       | A list of Python modules that  | a list of strings                                           |
   |                    | distutils will manipulate      |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *scripts*          | A list of standalone script    | a list of strings                                           |
   |                    | files to be built and          |                                                             |
   |                    | installed                      |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *ext_modules*      | A list of Python extensions to | A list of  instances of                                     |
   |                    | be built                       | :class:`distutils.core.Extension`                           |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *classifiers*      | A list of categories for the   | The list of available                                       |
   |                    | package                        | categorizations is at                                       |
   |                    |                                | http://pypi.python.org/pypi?:action=list_classifiers.       |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *distclass*        | the :class:`Distribution`      | A subclass of                                               |
   |                    | class to use                   | :class:`distutils.core.Distribution`                        |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *script_name*      | The name of the setup.py       | a string                                                    |
   |                    | script - defaults to           |                                                             |
   |                    | ``sys.argv[0]``                |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *script_args*      | Arguments to supply to the     | a list of strings                                           |
   |                    | setup script                   |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *options*          | default options for the setup  | a string                                                    |
   |                    | script                         |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *license*          | The license for the package    | a string                                                    |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *keywords*         | Descriptive meta-data, see     |                                                             |
   |                    | :pep:`314`                     |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *platforms*        |                                |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *cmdclass*         | A mapping of command names to  | a dictionary                                                |
   |                    | :class:`Command` subclasses    |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *data_files*       | A list of data files to        | a list                                                      |
   |                    | install                        |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
   | *package_dir*      | A mapping of package to        | a dictionary                                                |
   |                    | directory names                |                                                             |
   +--------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+



.. function:: run_setup(script_name[, script_args=None, stop_after='run'])

   Run a setup script in a somewhat controlled environment, and return  the
   :class:`distutils.dist.Distribution` instance that drives things.   This is
   useful if you need to find out the distribution meta-data  (passed as keyword
   args from *script* to :func:`setup`), or  the contents of the config files or
   command-line.

   *script_name* is a file that will be run with :func:`execfile` ``sys.argv[0]``
   will be replaced with *script* for the duration of the call.  *script_args* is a
   list of strings; if supplied, ``sys.argv[1:]`` will be replaced by *script_args*
   for the duration  of the call.

   *stop_after* tells :func:`setup` when to stop processing; possible  values:

   +---------------+---------------------------------------------+
   | value         | description                                 |
   +===============+=============================================+
   | *init*        | Stop after the :class:`Distribution`        |
   |               | instance has been created  and populated    |
   |               | with the keyword arguments to :func:`setup` |
   +---------------+---------------------------------------------+
   | *config*      | Stop after config files have been parsed    |
   |               | (and their data stored in the               |
   |               | :class:`Distribution` instance)             |
   +---------------+---------------------------------------------+
   | *commandline* | Stop after the command-line                 |
   |               | (``sys.argv[1:]`` or  *script_args*) have   |
   |               | been parsed (and the data stored in the     |
   |               | :class:`Distribution` instance.)            |
   +---------------+---------------------------------------------+
   | *run*         | Stop after all commands have been run (the  |
   |               | same as  if :func:`setup` had been called   |
   |               | in the usual way). This is the default      |
   |               | value.                                      |
   +---------------+---------------------------------------------+

In addition, the :mod:`distutils.core` module exposed a number of  classes that
live elsewhere.

* :class:`Extension` from :mod:`distutils.extension`

* :class:`Command` from :mod:`distutils.cmd`

* :class:`Distribution` from :mod:`distutils.dist`

A short description of each of these follows, but see the relevant module for
the full reference.


.. class:: Extension

   The Extension class describes a single C or C++extension module in a setup
   script. It accepts the following keyword arguments in its constructor

   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | argument name          | value                          | type                      |
   +========================+================================+===========================+
   | *name*                 | the full name of the           | string                    |
   |                        | extension, including any       |                           |
   |                        | packages --- ie. *not* a       |                           |
   |                        | filename or pathname, but      |                           |
   |                        | Python dotted name             |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *sources*              | list of source filenames,      | string                    |
   |                        | relative to the distribution   |                           |
   |                        | root (where the setup script   |                           |
   |                        | lives), in Unix form (slash-   |                           |
   |                        | separated) for portability.    |                           |
   |                        | Source files may be C, C++,    |                           |
   |                        | SWIG (.i), platform-specific   |                           |
   |                        | resource files, or whatever    |                           |
   |                        | else is recognized by the      |                           |
   |                        | :command:`build_ext` command   |                           |
   |                        | as source for a Python         |                           |
   |                        | extension.                     |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *include_dirs*         | list of directories to search  | string                    |
   |                        | for C/C++ header files (in     |                           |
   |                        | Unix form for portability)     |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *define_macros*        | list of macros to define; each | (string, string) tuple or |
   |                        | macro is defined using a       | (name, ``None``)          |
   |                        | 2-tuple ``(name, value)``,     |                           |
   |                        | where *value* is               |                           |
   |                        | either the string to define it |                           |
   |                        | to or ``None`` to define it    |                           |
   |                        | without a particular value     |                           |
   |                        | (equivalent of ``#define FOO`` |                           |
   |                        | in source or :option:`-DFOO`   |                           |
   |                        | on Unix C compiler command     |                           |
   |                        | line)                          |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *undef_macros*         | list of macros to undefine     | string                    |
   |                        | explicitly                     |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *library_dirs*         | list of directories to search  | string                    |
   |                        | for C/C++ libraries at link    |                           |
   |                        | time                           |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *libraries*            | list of library names (not     | string                    |
   |                        | filenames or paths) to link    |                           |
   |                        | against                        |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *runtime_library_dirs* | list of directories to search  | string                    |
   |                        | for C/C++ libraries at run     |                           |
   |                        | time (for shared extensions,   |                           |
   |                        | this is when the extension is  |                           |
   |                        | loaded)                        |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *extra_objects*        | list of extra files to link    | string                    |
   |                        | with (eg. object files not     |                           |
   |                        | implied by 'sources', static   |                           |
   |                        | library that must be           |                           |
   |                        | explicitly specified, binary   |                           |
   |                        | resource files, etc.)          |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *extra_compile_args*   | any extra platform- and        | string                    |
   |                        | compiler-specific information  |                           |
   |                        | to use when compiling the      |                           |
   |                        | source files in 'sources'. For |                           |
   |                        | platforms and compilers where  |                           |
   |                        | a command line makes sense,    |                           |
   |                        | this is typically a list of    |                           |
   |                        | command-line arguments, but    |                           |
   |                        | for other platforms it could   |                           |
   |                        | be anything.                   |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *extra_link_args*      | any extra platform- and        | string                    |
   |                        | compiler-specific information  |                           |
   |                        | to use when linking object     |                           |
   |                        | files together to create the   |                           |
   |                        | extension (or to create a new  |                           |
   |                        | static Python interpreter).    |                           |
   |                        | Similar interpretation as for  |                           |
   |                        | 'extra_compile_args'.          |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *export_symbols*       | list of symbols to be exported | string                    |
   |                        | from a shared extension. Not   |                           |
   |                        | used on all platforms, and not |                           |
   |                        | generally necessary for Python |                           |
   |                        | extensions, which typically    |                           |
   |                        | export exactly one symbol:     |                           |
   |                        | ``init`` + extension_name.     |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *depends*              | list of files that the         | string                    |
   |                        | extension depends on           |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+
   | *language*             | extension language (i.e.       | string                    |
   |                        | ``'c'``, ``'c++'``,            |                           |
   |                        | ``'objc'``). Will be detected  |                           |
   |                        | from the source extensions if  |                           |
   |                        | not provided.                  |                           |
   +------------------------+--------------------------------+---------------------------+


.. class:: Distribution

   A :class:`Distribution` describes how to build, install and package up a Python
   software package.

   See the :func:`setup` function for a list of keyword arguments accepted  by the
   Distribution constructor. :func:`setup` creates a Distribution instance.


.. class:: Command

   A :class:`Command` class (or rather, an instance of one of its subclasses)
   implement a single distutils command.


:mod:`distutils.ccompiler` --- CCompiler base class
===================================================

.. module:: distutils.ccompiler
   :synopsis: Abstract CCompiler class


This module provides the abstract base class for the :class:`CCompiler`
classes.  A :class:`CCompiler` instance can be used for all the compile  and
link steps needed to build a single project. Methods are provided to  set
options for the compiler --- macro definitions, include directories,  link path,
libraries and the like.

This module provides the following functions.


.. function:: gen_lib_options(compiler, library_dirs, runtime_library_dirs, libraries)

   Generate linker options for searching library directories and linking with
   specific libraries.  *libraries* and *library_dirs* are, respectively, lists of
   library names (not filenames!) and search directories.  Returns a list of
   command-line options suitable for use with some compiler (depending on the two
   format strings passed in).


.. function:: gen_preprocess_options(macros, include_dirs)

   Generate C pre-processor options (:option:`-D`, :option:`-U`, :option:`-I`) as
   used by at least two types of compilers: the typical Unix compiler and Visual
   C++. *macros* is the usual thing, a list of 1- or 2-tuples, where ``(name,)``
   means undefine (:option:`-U`) macro *name*, and ``(name, value)`` means define
   (:option:`-D`) macro *name* to *value*.  *include_dirs* is just a list of
   directory names to be added to the header file search path (:option:`-I`).
   Returns a list of command-line options suitable for either Unix compilers or
   Visual C++.


.. function:: get_default_compiler(osname, platform)

   Determine the default compiler to use for the given platform.

   *osname* should be one of the standard Python OS names (i.e. the ones returned
   by ``os.name``) and *platform* the common value returned by ``sys.platform`` for
   the platform in question.

   The default values are ``os.name`` and ``sys.platform`` in case the parameters
   are not given.


.. function:: new_compiler(plat=None, compiler=None, verbose=0, dry_run=0, force=0)

   Factory function to generate an instance of some CCompiler subclass for the
   supplied platform/compiler combination. *plat* defaults to ``os.name`` (eg.
   ``'posix'``, ``'nt'``), and *compiler*  defaults to the default compiler for
   that platform. Currently only ``'posix'`` and ``'nt'`` are supported, and the
   default compilers are "traditional Unix interface" (:class:`UnixCCompiler`
   class) and Visual C++ (:class:`MSVCCompiler` class).  Note that it's perfectly
   possible to ask for a Unix compiler object under Windows, and a Microsoft
   compiler object under Unix---if you supply a value for *compiler*, *plat* is
   ignored.

   .. % Is the posix/nt only thing still true? Mac OS X seems to work, and
   .. % returns a UnixCCompiler instance. How to document this... hmm.


.. function:: show_compilers()

   Print list of available compilers (used by the :option:`--help-compiler` options
   to :command:`build`, :command:`build_ext`, :command:`build_clib`).


.. class:: CCompiler([verbose=0, dry_run=0, force=0])

   The abstract base class :class:`CCompiler` defines the interface that  must be
   implemented by real compiler classes.  The class also has  some utility methods
   used by several compiler classes.

   The basic idea behind a compiler abstraction class is that each instance can be
   used for all the compile/link steps in building a single project.  Thus,
   attributes common to all of those compile and link steps --- include
   directories, macros to define, libraries to link against, etc. --- are
   attributes of the compiler instance.  To allow for variability in how individual
   files are treated, most of those attributes may be varied on a per-compilation
   or per-link basis.

   The constructor for each subclass creates an instance of the Compiler object.
   Flags are *verbose* (show verbose output), *dry_run* (don't actually execute the
   steps) and *force* (rebuild everything, regardless of dependencies). All of
   these flags default to ``0`` (off). Note that you probably don't want to
   instantiate :class:`CCompiler` or one of its subclasses directly - use the
   :func:`distutils.CCompiler.new_compiler` factory function instead.

   The following methods allow you to manually alter compiler options for  the
   instance of the Compiler class.


   .. method:: CCompiler.add_include_dir(dir)

      Add *dir* to the list of directories that will be searched for header files.
      The compiler is instructed to search directories in the order in which they are
      supplied by successive calls to :meth:`add_include_dir`.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_include_dirs(dirs)

      Set the list of directories that will be searched to *dirs* (a list of strings).
      Overrides any preceding calls to :meth:`add_include_dir`; subsequent calls to
      :meth:`add_include_dir` add to the list passed to :meth:`set_include_dirs`.
      This does not affect any list of standard include directories that the compiler
      may search by default.


   .. method:: CCompiler.add_library(libname)

      Add *libname* to the list of libraries that will be included in all links driven
      by this compiler object.  Note that *libname* should \*not\* be the name of a
      file containing a library, but the name of the library itself: the actual
      filename will be inferred by the linker, the compiler, or the compiler class
      (depending on the platform).

      The linker will be instructed to link against libraries in the order they were
      supplied to :meth:`add_library` and/or :meth:`set_libraries`.  It is perfectly
      valid to duplicate library names; the linker will be instructed to link against
      libraries as many times as they are mentioned.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_libraries(libnames)

      Set the list of libraries to be included in all links driven by this compiler
      object to *libnames* (a list of strings).  This does not affect any standard
      system libraries that the linker may include by default.


   .. method:: CCompiler.add_library_dir(dir)

      Add *dir* to the list of directories that will be searched for libraries
      specified to :meth:`add_library` and :meth:`set_libraries`.  The linker will be
      instructed to search for libraries in the order they are supplied to
      :meth:`add_library_dir` and/or :meth:`set_library_dirs`.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_library_dirs(dirs)

      Set the list of library search directories to *dirs* (a list of strings).  This
      does not affect any standard library search path that the linker may search by
      default.


   .. method:: CCompiler.add_runtime_library_dir(dir)

      Add *dir* to the list of directories that will be searched for shared libraries
      at runtime.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_runtime_library_dirs(dirs)

      Set the list of directories to search for shared libraries at runtime to *dirs*
      (a list of strings).  This does not affect any standard search path that the
      runtime linker may search by default.


   .. method:: CCompiler.define_macro(name[, value=None])

      Define a preprocessor macro for all compilations driven by this compiler object.
      The optional parameter *value* should be a string; if it is not supplied, then
      the macro will be defined without an explicit value and the exact outcome
      depends on the compiler used (XXX true? does ANSI say anything about this?)


   .. method:: CCompiler.undefine_macro(name)

      Undefine a preprocessor macro for all compilations driven by this compiler
      object.  If the same macro is defined by :meth:`define_macro` and
      undefined by :meth:`undefine_macro` the last call takes precedence
      (including multiple redefinitions or undefinitions).  If the macro is
      redefined/undefined on a per-compilation basis (ie. in the call to
      :meth:`compile`), then that takes precedence.


   .. method:: CCompiler.add_link_object(object)

      Add *object* to the list of object files (or analogues, such as explicitly named
      library files or the output of "resource compilers") to be included in every
      link driven by this compiler object.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_link_objects(objects)

      Set the list of object files (or analogues) to be included in every link to
      *objects*.  This does not affect any standard object files that the linker may
      include by default (such as system libraries).

   The following methods implement methods for autodetection of compiler  options,
   providing some functionality similar to GNU :program:`autoconf`.


   .. method:: CCompiler.detect_language(sources)

      Detect the language of a given file, or list of files. Uses the  instance
      attributes :attr:`language_map` (a dictionary), and  :attr:`language_order` (a
      list) to do the job.


   .. method:: CCompiler.find_library_file(dirs, lib[, debug=0])

      Search the specified list of directories for a static or shared library file
      *lib* and return the full path to that file.  If *debug* is true, look for a
      debugging version (if that makes sense on the current platform).  Return
      ``None`` if *lib* wasn't found in any of the specified directories.


   .. method:: CCompiler.has_function(funcname [, includes=None, include_dirs=None, libraries=None, library_dirs=None])

      Return a boolean indicating whether *funcname* is supported on the current
      platform.  The optional arguments can be used to augment the compilation
      environment by providing additional include files and paths and libraries and
      paths.


   .. method:: CCompiler.library_dir_option(dir)

      Return the compiler option to add *dir* to the list of directories searched for
      libraries.


   .. method:: CCompiler.library_option(lib)

      Return the compiler option to add *dir* to the list of libraries linked into the
      shared library or executable.


   .. method:: CCompiler.runtime_library_dir_option(dir)

      Return the compiler option to add *dir* to the list of directories searched for
      runtime libraries.


   .. method:: CCompiler.set_executables(**args)

      Define the executables (and options for them) that will be run to perform the
      various stages of compilation.  The exact set of executables that may be
      specified here depends on the compiler class (via the 'executables' class
      attribute), but most will have:

      +--------------+------------------------------------------+
      | attribute    | description                              |
      +==============+==========================================+
      | *compiler*   | the C/C++ compiler                       |
      +--------------+------------------------------------------+
      | *linker_so*  | linker used to create shared objects and |
      |              | libraries                                |
      +--------------+------------------------------------------+
      | *linker_exe* | linker used to create binary executables |
      +--------------+------------------------------------------+
      | *archiver*   | static library creator                   |
      +--------------+------------------------------------------+

      On platforms with a command-line (Unix, DOS/Windows), each of these is a string
      that will be split into executable name and (optional) list of arguments.
      (Splitting the string is done similarly to how Unix shells operate: words are
      delimited by spaces, but quotes and backslashes can override this.  See
      :func:`distutils.util.split_quoted`.)

   The following methods invoke stages in the build process.


   .. method:: CCompiler.compile(sources[, output_dir=None, macros=None, include_dirs=None, debug=0, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None, depends=None])

      Compile one or more source files. Generates object files (e.g.  transforms a
      :file:`.c` file to a :file:`.o` file.)

      *sources* must be a list of filenames, most likely C/C++ files, but in reality
      anything that can be handled by a particular compiler and compiler class (eg.
      :class:`MSVCCompiler` can handle resource files in *sources*).  Return a list of
      object filenames, one per source filename in *sources*.  Depending on the
      implementation, not all source files will necessarily be compiled, but all
      corresponding object filenames will be returned.

      If *output_dir* is given, object files will be put under it, while retaining
      their original path component.  That is, :file:`foo/bar.c` normally compiles to
      :file:`foo/bar.o` (for a Unix implementation); if *output_dir* is *build*, then
      it would compile to :file:`build/foo/bar.o`.

      *macros*, if given, must be a list of macro definitions.  A macro definition is
      either a ``(name, value)`` 2-tuple or a ``(name,)`` 1-tuple. The former defines
      a macro; if the value is ``None``, the macro is defined without an explicit
      value.  The 1-tuple case undefines a macro.  Later
      definitions/redefinitions/undefinitions take precedence.

      *include_dirs*, if given, must be a list of strings, the directories to add to
      the default include file search path for this compilation only.

      *debug* is a boolean; if true, the compiler will be instructed to output debug
      symbols in (or alongside) the object file(s).

      *extra_preargs* and *extra_postargs* are implementation-dependent. On platforms
      that have the notion of a command-line (e.g. Unix, DOS/Windows), they are most
      likely lists of strings: extra command-line arguments to prepend/append to the
      compiler command line.  On other platforms, consult the implementation class
      documentation.  In any event, they are intended as an escape hatch for those
      occasions when the abstract compiler framework doesn't cut the mustard.

      *depends*, if given, is a list of filenames that all targets depend on.  If a
      source file is older than any file in depends, then the source file will be
      recompiled.  This supports dependency tracking, but only at a coarse
      granularity.

      Raises :exc:`CompileError` on failure.


   .. method:: CCompiler.create_static_lib(objects, output_libname[, output_dir=None, debug=0, target_lang=None])

      Link a bunch of stuff together to create a static library file. The "bunch of
      stuff" consists of the list of object files supplied as *objects*, the extra
      object files supplied to :meth:`add_link_object` and/or
      :meth:`set_link_objects`, the libraries supplied to :meth:`add_library` and/or
      :meth:`set_libraries`, and the libraries supplied as *libraries* (if any).

      *output_libname* should be a library name, not a filename; the filename will be
      inferred from the library name.  *output_dir* is the directory where the library
      file will be put. XXX defaults to what?

      *debug* is a boolean; if true, debugging information will be included in the
      library (note that on most platforms, it is the compile step where this matters:
      the *debug* flag is included here just for consistency).

      *target_lang* is the target language for which the given objects are being
      compiled. This allows specific linkage time treatment of certain languages.

      Raises :exc:`LibError` on failure.


   .. method:: CCompiler.link(target_desc, objects, output_filename[, output_dir=None, libraries=None, library_dirs=None, runtime_library_dirs=None, export_symbols=None, debug=0, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None, build_temp=None, target_lang=None])

      Link a bunch of stuff together to create an executable or shared library file.

      The "bunch of stuff" consists of the list of object files supplied as *objects*.
      *output_filename* should be a filename.  If *output_dir* is supplied,
      *output_filename* is relative to it (i.e. *output_filename* can provide
      directory components if needed).

      *libraries* is a list of libraries to link against.  These are library names,
      not filenames, since they're translated into filenames in a platform-specific
      way (eg. *foo* becomes :file:`libfoo.a` on Unix and :file:`foo.lib` on
      DOS/Windows).  However, they can include a directory component, which means the
      linker will look in that specific directory rather than searching all the normal
      locations.

      *library_dirs*, if supplied, should be a list of directories to search for
      libraries that were specified as bare library names (ie. no directory
      component).  These are on top of the system default and those supplied to
      :meth:`add_library_dir` and/or :meth:`set_library_dirs`.  *runtime_library_dirs*
      is a list of directories that will be embedded into the shared library and used
      to search for other shared libraries that \*it\* depends on at run-time.  (This
      may only be relevant on Unix.)

      *export_symbols* is a list of symbols that the shared library will export.
      (This appears to be relevant only on Windows.)

      *debug* is as for :meth:`compile` and :meth:`create_static_lib`,  with the
      slight distinction that it actually matters on most platforms (as opposed to
      :meth:`create_static_lib`, which includes a *debug* flag mostly for form's
      sake).

      *extra_preargs* and *extra_postargs* are as for :meth:`compile`  (except of
      course that they supply command-line arguments for the particular linker being
      used).

      *target_lang* is the target language for which the given objects are being
      compiled. This allows specific linkage time treatment of certain languages.

      Raises :exc:`LinkError` on failure.


   .. method:: CCompiler.link_executable(objects, output_progname[, output_dir=None, libraries=None, library_dirs=None, runtime_library_dirs=None, debug=0, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None, target_lang=None])

      Link an executable.  *output_progname* is the name of the file executable, while
      *objects* are a list of object filenames to link in. Other arguments  are as for
      the :meth:`link` method.


   .. method:: CCompiler.link_shared_lib(objects, output_libname[, output_dir=None, libraries=None, library_dirs=None, runtime_library_dirs=None, export_symbols=None, debug=0, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None, build_temp=None, target_lang=None])

      Link a shared library. *output_libname* is the name of the output  library,
      while *objects* is a list of object filenames to link in.  Other arguments are
      as for the :meth:`link` method.


   .. method:: CCompiler.link_shared_object(objects, output_filename[, output_dir=None, libraries=None, library_dirs=None, runtime_library_dirs=None, export_symbols=None, debug=0, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None, build_temp=None, target_lang=None])

      Link a shared object. *output_filename* is the name of the shared object that
      will be created, while *objects* is a list of object filenames  to link in.
      Other arguments are as for the :meth:`link` method.


   .. method:: CCompiler.preprocess(source[, output_file=None, macros=None, include_dirs=None, extra_preargs=None, extra_postargs=None])

      Preprocess a single C/C++ source file, named in *source*. Output will be written
      to file named *output_file*, or *stdout* if *output_file* not supplied.
      *macros* is a list of macro definitions as for :meth:`compile`, which will
      augment the macros set with :meth:`define_macro` and :meth:`undefine_macro`.
      *include_dirs* is a list of directory names that will be added to the  default
      list, in the same way as :meth:`add_include_dir`.

      Raises :exc:`PreprocessError` on failure.

   The following utility methods are defined by the :class:`CCompiler` class, for
   use by the various concrete subclasses.


   .. method:: CCompiler.executable_filename(basename[, strip_dir=0, output_dir=''])

      Returns the filename of the executable for the given *basename*.  Typically for
      non-Windows platforms this is the same as the basename,  while Windows will get
      a :file:`.exe` added.


   .. method:: CCompiler.library_filename(libname[, lib_type='static', strip_dir=0, output_dir=''])

      Returns the filename for the given library name on the current platform. On Unix
      a library with *lib_type* of ``'static'`` will typically  be of the form
      :file:`liblibname.a`, while a *lib_type* of ``'dynamic'``  will be of the form
      :file:`liblibname.so`.


   .. method:: CCompiler.object_filenames(source_filenames[, strip_dir=0, output_dir=''])

      Returns the name of the object files for the given source files.
      *source_filenames* should be a list of filenames.


   .. method:: CCompiler.shared_object_filename(basename[, strip_dir=0, output_dir=''])

      Returns the name of a shared object file for the given file name *basename*.


   .. method:: CCompiler.execute(func, args[, msg=None, level=1])

      Invokes :func:`distutils.util.execute` This method invokes a  Python function
      *func* with the given arguments *args*, after  logging and taking into account
      the *dry_run* flag. XXX see also.


   .. method:: CCompiler.spawn(cmd)

      Invokes :func:`distutils.util.spawn`. This invokes an external  process to run
      the given command. XXX see also.


   .. method:: CCompiler.mkpath(name[, mode=511])

      Invokes :func:`distutils.dir_util.mkpath`. This creates a directory  and any
      missing ancestor directories. XXX see also.


   .. method:: CCompiler.move_file(src, dst)

      Invokes :meth:`distutils.file_util.move_file`. Renames *src* to  *dst*.  XXX see
      also.


   .. method:: CCompiler.announce(msg[, level=1])

      Write a message using :func:`distutils.log.debug`. XXX see also.


   .. method:: CCompiler.warn(msg)

      Write a warning message *msg* to standard error.


   .. method:: CCompiler.debug_print(msg)

      If the *debug* flag is set on this :class:`CCompiler` instance, print  *msg* to
      standard output, otherwise do nothing.

.. % \subsection{Compiler-specific modules}
.. %
.. % The following modules implement concrete subclasses of the abstract
.. % \class{CCompiler} class. They should not be instantiated directly, but should
.. % be created using \function{distutils.ccompiler.new_compiler()} factory
.. % function.


:mod:`distutils.unixccompiler` --- Unix C Compiler
==================================================

.. module:: distutils.unixccompiler
   :synopsis: UNIX C Compiler


This module provides the :class:`UnixCCompiler` class, a subclass of
:class:`CCompiler` that handles the typical Unix-style command-line  C compiler:

* macros defined with :option:`-Dname[=value]`

* macros undefined with :option:`-Uname`

* include search directories specified with :option:`-Idir`

* libraries specified with :option:`-llib`

* library search directories specified with :option:`-Ldir`

* compile handled by :program:`cc` (or similar) executable with :option:`-c`
  option: compiles :file:`.c` to :file:`.o`

* link static library handled by :program:`ar` command (possibly with
  :program:`ranlib`)

* link shared library handled by :program:`cc` :option:`-shared`


:mod:`distutils.msvccompiler` --- Microsoft Compiler
====================================================

.. module:: distutils.msvccompiler
   :synopsis: Microsoft Compiler


This module provides :class:`MSVCCompiler`, an implementation of the abstract
:class:`CCompiler` class for Microsoft Visual Studio. Typically, extension
modules need to be compiled with the same compiler that was used to compile
Python. For Python 2.3 and earlier, the compiler was Visual Studio 6. For Python
2.4 and 2.5, the compiler is Visual Studio .NET 2003. The AMD64 and Itanium
binaries are created using the Platform SDK.

:class:`MSVCCompiler` will normally choose the right compiler, linker etc. on
its own. To override this choice, the environment variables *DISTUTILS_USE_SDK*
and *MSSdk* must be both set. *MSSdk* indicates that the current environment has
been setup by the SDK's ``SetEnv.Cmd`` script, or that the environment variables
had been registered when the SDK was installed; *DISTUTILS_USE_SDK* indicates
that the distutils user has made an explicit choice to override the compiler
selection by :class:`MSVCCompiler`.


:mod:`distutils.bcppcompiler` --- Borland Compiler
==================================================

.. module:: distutils.bcppcompiler


This module provides :class:`BorlandCCompiler`, an subclass of the abstract
:class:`CCompiler` class for the Borland C++ compiler.


:mod:`distutils.cygwincompiler` --- Cygwin Compiler
===================================================

.. module:: distutils.cygwinccompiler


This module provides the :class:`CygwinCCompiler` class, a subclass of
:class:`UnixCCompiler` that handles the Cygwin port of the GNU C compiler to
Windows.  It also contains the Mingw32CCompiler class which handles the mingw32
port of GCC (same as cygwin in no-cygwin mode).


:mod:`distutils.emxccompiler` --- OS/2 EMX Compiler
===================================================

.. module:: distutils.emxccompiler
   :synopsis: OS/2 EMX Compiler support


This module provides the EMXCCompiler class, a subclass of
:class:`UnixCCompiler` that handles the EMX port of the GNU C compiler to OS/2.


:mod:`distutils.mwerkscompiler` --- Metrowerks CodeWarrior support
==================================================================

.. module:: distutils.mwerkscompiler
   :synopsis: Metrowerks CodeWarrior support


Contains :class:`MWerksCompiler`, an implementation of the abstract
:class:`CCompiler` class for MetroWerks CodeWarrior on the pre-Mac OS X
Macintosh. Needs work to support CW on Windows or Mac OS X.

.. % \subsection{Utility modules}
.. %
.. % The following modules all provide general utility functions. They haven't
.. % all been documented yet.


:mod:`distutils.archive_util` ---  Archiving utilities
======================================================

.. module:: distutils.archive_util
   :synopsis: Utility functions for creating archive files (tarballs, zip files, ...)


This module provides a few functions for creating archive files, such as
tarballs or zipfiles.


.. function:: make_archive(base_name, format[, root_dir=None, base_dir=None, verbose=0, dry_run=0])

   Create an archive file (eg. ``zip`` or ``tar``).  *base_name*  is the name of
   the file to create, minus any format-specific extension;  *format* is the
   archive format: one of ``zip``, ``tar``,  ``ztar``, or ``gztar``. *root_dir* is
   a directory that will be the root directory of the archive; ie. we typically
   ``chdir`` into *root_dir* before  creating the archive.  *base_dir* is the
   directory where we start  archiving from; ie. *base_dir* will be the common
   prefix of all files and directories in the archive.  *root_dir* and *base_dir*
   both default to the current directory.  Returns the name of the archive file.

   .. XXX This should be changed to support bz2 files.


.. function:: make_tarball(base_name, base_dir[, compress='gzip', verbose=0, dry_run=0])

   'Create an (optional compressed) archive as a tar file from all files in and
   under *base_dir*. *compress* must be ``'gzip'`` (the default),  ``'compress'``,
   ``'bzip2'``, or ``None``.  Both :program:`tar` and the compressi…