Configuring Python packages

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1.1 Configuring Python packages

Configuring and installing Python packages which use pyconfigure follows the familiar steps of all standard GNU software:

     $ ./configure
     $ make
     $ make install

In fact, since most programs do not have anything to build, the second step could usually be skipped.

As usual, the user may pass arguments to configure in order to specify how she wants the software to be installed. By default, configure takes the following useful arguments:

Argument Description

--prefix Set the root directory in which to install files (default=/usr/local)

--with-virtualenv Install to a virtualenv at $prefix

PYTHON Path to the Python interpreter to use

PYTHONPATH The PYTHONPATH to use during the installation

Argument	Description
`--prefix`	Set the root directory in which to install files (default=/usr/local)
`--with-virtualenv`	Install to a virtualenv at `$prefix`
`PYTHON`	Path to the Python interpreter to use
`PYTHONPATH`	The PYTHONPATH to use during the installation

However, as the developer is expected to customize these files, the final configure script may take many more arguments. The developer is expected to provide proper documentation in this case.