"sysconfig" — Provide access to Python’s configuration information
******************************************************************

Added in version 3.2.

**Source code:** Lib/sysconfig

======================================================================

The "sysconfig" module provides access to Python’s configuration
information like the list of installation paths and the configuration
variables relevant for the current platform.


Configuration variables
=======================

A Python distribution contains a "Makefile" and a "pyconfig.h" header
file that are necessary to build both the Python binary itself and
third-party C extensions compiled using "setuptools".

"sysconfig" puts all variables found in these files in a dictionary
that can be accessed using "get_config_vars()" or "get_config_var()".

Notice that on Windows, it’s a much smaller set.

sysconfig.get_config_vars(*args)

   With no arguments, return a dictionary of all configuration
   variables relevant for the current platform.

   With arguments, return a list of values that result from looking up
   each argument in the configuration variable dictionary.

   For each argument, if the value is not found, return "None".

sysconfig.get_config_var(name)

   Return the value of a single variable *name*. Equivalent to
   "get_config_vars().get(name)".

   If *name* is not found, return "None".

Example of usage:

   >>> import sysconfig
   >>> sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')
   0
   >>> sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR')
   '/usr/local/lib'
   >>> sysconfig.get_config_vars('AR', 'CXX')
   ['ar', 'g++']


Installation paths
==================

Python uses an installation scheme that differs depending on the
platform and on the installation options.  These schemes are stored in
"sysconfig" under unique identifiers based on the value returned by
"os.name". The schemes are used by package installers to determine
where to copy files to.

Python currently supports nine schemes:

* *posix_prefix*: scheme for POSIX platforms like Linux or macOS.
  This is the default scheme used when Python or a component is
  installed.

* *posix_home*: scheme for POSIX platforms, when the *home* option is
  used. This scheme defines paths located under a specific home
  prefix.

* *posix_user*: scheme for POSIX platforms, when the *user* option is
  used. This scheme defines paths located under the user’s home
  directory ("site.USER_BASE").

* *posix_venv*: scheme for "Python virtual environments" on POSIX
  platforms; by default it is the same as *posix_prefix*.

* *nt*: scheme for Windows. This is the default scheme used when
  Python or a component is installed.

* *nt_user*: scheme for Windows, when the *user* option is used.

* *nt_venv*: scheme for "Python virtual environments" on Windows; by
  default it is the same as *nt*.

* *venv*: a scheme with values from either *posix_venv* or *nt_venv*
  depending on the platform Python runs on.

* *osx_framework_user*: scheme for macOS, when the *user* option is
  used.

Each scheme is itself composed of a series of paths and each path has
a unique identifier.  Python currently uses eight paths:

* *stdlib*: directory containing the standard Python library files
  that are not platform-specific.

* *platstdlib*: directory containing the standard Python library files
  that are platform-specific.

* *platlib*: directory for site-specific, platform-specific files.

* *purelib*: directory for site-specific, non-platform-specific files
  (‘pure’ Python).

* *include*: directory for non-platform-specific header files for the
  Python C-API.

* *platinclude*: directory for platform-specific header files for the
  Python C-API.

* *scripts*: directory for script files.

* *data*: directory for data files.


User scheme
===========

This scheme is designed to be the most convenient solution for users
that don’t have write permission to the global site-packages directory
or don’t want to install into it.

Files will be installed into subdirectories of "site.USER_BASE"
(written as "*userbase*" hereafter).  This scheme installs pure Python
modules and extension modules in the same location (also known as
"site.USER_SITE").


"posix_user"
------------

+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                      |
|================|=============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*userbase*/lib/python*X.Y*"                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*userbase*/lib/python*X.Y*"                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*userbase*/lib/python*X.Y*/site-packages"                  |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*userbase*/lib/python*X.Y*/site-packages"                  |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*userbase*/include/python*X.Y*"                            |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*userbase*/bin"                                            |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*userbase*"                                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+


"nt_user"
---------

+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                      |
|================|=============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*userbase*\Python*XY*"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*userbase*\Python*XY*"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*userbase*\Python*XY*\site-packages"                       |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*userbase*\Python*XY*\site-packages"                       |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*userbase*\Python*XY*\Include"                             |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*userbase*\Python*XY*\Scripts"                             |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*userbase*"                                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+


"osx_framework_user"
--------------------

+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                      |
|================|=============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*userbase*/lib/python"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*userbase*/lib/python"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*userbase*/lib/python/site-packages"                       |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*userbase*/lib/python/site-packages"                       |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*userbase*/include/python*X.Y*"                            |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*userbase*/bin"                                            |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*userbase*"                                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+


Home scheme
===========

The idea behind the “home scheme” is that you build and maintain a
personal stash of Python modules.  This scheme’s name is derived from
the idea of a “home” directory on Unix, since it’s not unusual for a
Unix user to make their home directory have a layout similar to
"/usr/" or "/usr/local/". This scheme can be used by anyone,
regardless of the operating system they are installing for.


"posix_home"
------------

+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                      |
|================|=============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*home*/lib/python"                                         |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*home*/lib/python"                                         |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*home*/lib/python"                                         |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*home*/lib/python"                                         |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*home*/include/python"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platinclude*  | "*home*/include/python"                                     |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*home*/bin"                                                |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*home*"                                                    |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+


Prefix scheme
=============

The “prefix scheme” is useful when you wish to use one Python
installation to perform the build/install (i.e., to run the setup
script), but install modules into the third-party module directory of
a different Python installation (or something that looks like a
different Python installation).  If this sounds a trifle unusual, it
is—that’s why the user and home schemes come before.  However, there
are at least two known cases where the prefix scheme will be useful.

First, consider that many Linux distributions put Python in "/usr",
rather than the more traditional "/usr/local".  This is entirely
appropriate, since in those cases Python is part of “the system”
rather than a local add-on. However, if you are installing Python
modules from source, you probably want them to go in
"/usr/local/lib/python2.*X*" rather than "/usr/lib/python2.*X*".

Another possibility is a network filesystem where the name used to
write to a remote directory is different from the name used to read
it: for example, the Python interpreter accessed as
"/usr/local/bin/python" might search for modules in
"/usr/local/lib/python2.*X*", but those modules would have to be
installed to, say, "/mnt/*@server*/export/lib/python2.*X*".


"posix_prefix"
--------------

+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                     |
|================|============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*prefix*/lib/python*X.Y*"                                 |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*prefix*/lib/python*X.Y*"                                 |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*prefix*/lib/python*X.Y*/site-packages"                   |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*prefix*/lib/python*X.Y*/site-packages"                   |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*prefix*/include/python*X.Y*"                             |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platinclude*  | "*prefix*/include/python*X.Y*"                             |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*prefix*/bin"                                             |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*prefix*"                                                 |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+


"nt"
----

+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Path           | Installation directory                                     |
|================|============================================================|
| *stdlib*       | "*prefix*\Lib"                                             |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platstdlib*   | "*prefix*\Lib"                                             |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platlib*      | "*prefix*\Lib\site-packages"                               |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *purelib*      | "*prefix*\Lib\site-packages"                               |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *include*      | "*prefix*\Include"                                         |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *platinclude*  | "*prefix*\Include"                                         |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *scripts*      | "*prefix*\Scripts"                                         |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| *data*         | "*prefix*"                                                 |
+----------------+------------------------------------------------------------+


Installation path functions
===========================

"sysconfig" provides some functions to determine these installation
paths.

sysconfig.get_scheme_names()

   Return a tuple containing all schemes currently supported in
   "sysconfig".

sysconfig.get_default_scheme()

   Return the default scheme name for the current platform.

   Added in version 3.10: This function was previously named
   "_get_default_scheme()" and considered an implementation detail.

   Changed in version 3.11: When Python runs from a virtual
   environment, the *venv* scheme is returned.

sysconfig.get_preferred_scheme(key)

   Return a preferred scheme name for an installation layout specified
   by *key*.

   *key* must be either ""prefix"", ""home"", or ""user"".

   The return value is a scheme name listed in "get_scheme_names()".
   It can be passed to "sysconfig" functions that take a *scheme*
   argument, such as "get_paths()".

   Added in version 3.10.

   Changed in version 3.11: When Python runs from a virtual
   environment and "key="prefix"", the *venv* scheme is returned.

sysconfig._get_preferred_schemes()

   Return a dict containing preferred scheme names on the current
   platform. Python implementers and redistributors may add their
   preferred schemes to the "_INSTALL_SCHEMES" module-level global
   value, and modify this function to return those scheme names, to
   e.g. provide different schemes for system and language package
   managers to use, so packages installed by either do not mix with
   those by the other.

   End users should not use this function, but "get_default_scheme()"
   and "get_preferred_scheme()" instead.

   Added in version 3.10.

sysconfig.get_path_names()

   Return a tuple containing all path names currently supported in
   "sysconfig".

sysconfig.get_path(name[, scheme[, vars[, expand]]])

   Return an installation path corresponding to the path *name*, from
   the install scheme named *scheme*.

   *name* has to be a value from the list returned by
   "get_path_names()".

   "sysconfig" stores installation paths corresponding to each path
   name, for each platform, with variables to be expanded.  For
   instance the *stdlib* path for the *nt* scheme is: "{base}/Lib".

   "get_path()" will use the variables returned by "get_config_vars()"
   to expand the path.  All variables have default values for each
   platform so one may call this function and get the default value.

   If *scheme* is provided, it must be a value from the list returned
   by "get_scheme_names()".  Otherwise, the default scheme for the
   current platform is used.

   If *vars* is provided, it must be a dictionary of variables that
   will update the dictionary returned by "get_config_vars()".

   If *expand* is set to "False", the path will not be expanded using
   the variables.

   If *name* is not found, raise a "KeyError".

sysconfig.get_paths([scheme[, vars[, expand]]])

   Return a dictionary containing all installation paths corresponding
   to an installation scheme. See "get_path()" for more information.

   If *scheme* is not provided, will use the default scheme for the
   current platform.

   If *vars* is provided, it must be a dictionary of variables that
   will update the dictionary used to expand the paths.

   If *expand* is set to false, the paths will not be expanded.

   If *scheme* is not an existing scheme, "get_paths()" will raise a
   "KeyError".


Other functions
===============

sysconfig.get_python_version()

   Return the "MAJOR.MINOR" Python version number as a string.
   Similar to "'%d.%d' % sys.version_info[:2]".

sysconfig.get_platform()

   Return a string that identifies the current platform.

   This is used mainly to distinguish platform-specific build
   directories and platform-specific built distributions.  Typically
   includes the OS name and version and the architecture (as supplied
   by "os.uname()"), although the exact information included depends
   on the OS; e.g., on Linux, the kernel version isn’t particularly
   important.

   Examples of returned values:

   Windows:

   * win-amd64 (64-bit Windows on AMD64, aka x86_64, Intel64, and
     EM64T)

   * win-arm64 (64-bit Windows on ARM64, aka AArch64)

   * win32 (all others - specifically, sys.platform is returned)

   POSIX based OS:

   * linux-x86_64

   * macosx-15.5-arm64

   * macosx-26.0-universal2 (macOS on Apple Silicon or Intel)

   * android-24-arm64_v8a

   For other non-POSIX platforms, currently just returns
   "sys.platform".

sysconfig.is_python_build()

   Return "True" if the running Python interpreter was built from
   source and is being run from its built location, and not from a
   location resulting from e.g. running "make install" or installing
   via a binary installer.

sysconfig.parse_config_h(fp[, vars])

   Parse a "config.h"-style file.

   *fp* is a file-like object pointing to the "config.h"-like file.

   A dictionary containing name/value pairs is returned.  If an
   optional dictionary is passed in as the second argument, it is used
   instead of a new dictionary, and updated with the values read in
   the file.

sysconfig.get_config_h_filename()

   Return the path of "pyconfig.h".

sysconfig.get_makefile_filename()

   Return the path of "Makefile".


Command-line usage
==================

You can use "sysconfig" as a script with Python’s *-m* option:

   $ python -m sysconfig
   Platform: "macosx-10.4-i386"
   Python version: "3.2"
   Current installation scheme: "posix_prefix"

   Paths:
           data = "/usr/local"
           include = "/Users/tarek/Dev/svn.python.org/py3k/Include"
           platinclude = "."
           platlib = "/usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages"
           platstdlib = "/usr/local/lib/python3.2"
           purelib = "/usr/local/lib/python3.2/site-packages"
           scripts = "/usr/local/bin"
           stdlib = "/usr/local/lib/python3.2"

   Variables:
           AC_APPLE_UNIVERSAL_BUILD = "0"
           AIX_GENUINE_CPLUSPLUS = "0"
           AR = "ar"
           ARFLAGS = "rc"
           ...

This call will print in the standard output the information returned
by "get_platform()", "get_python_version()", "get_path()" and
"get_config_vars()".
