# Installing Python Modules

Greg Ward

Email: distutils-sig@python.org

### Abstract:

This document describes the Python Distribution Utilities (``Distutils'') from the end-user's point-of-view, describing how to extend the capabilities of a standard Python installation by building and installing third-party Python modules and extensions.

- 1 Introduction
  - 1.1 Best case: trivial installation
  - 1.2 The new standard: Distutils
- 2 Standard Build and Install
  - 2.1 Platform variations
  - 2.2 Splitting the job up
  - 2.3 How building works
  - 2.4 How installation works
- 3 Alternate Installation
  - 3.1 Alternate installation: Unix (the home scheme)
  - 3.2 Alternate installation: Unix (the prefix scheme)
  - 3.3 Alternate installation: Windows
  - 3.4 Alternate installation: Mac OS 9
- 4 Custom Installation
  - 4.1 Modifying Python's Search Path
- 5 Distutils Configuration Files
  - 5.1 Location and names of config files
  - 5.2 Syntax of config files
- 6 Building Extensions: Tips and Tricks
  - 6.1 Tweaking compiler/linker flags
  - 6.2 Using non-Microsoft compilers on Windows
    - 6.2.1 Borland C++
    - 6.2.2 GNU C / Cygwin / MinGW
- About this document ...