Download Python Sources

For most Unix systems, you must download and compile the source code. The same source code archive can also be used to build the Windows 95/98/NT interpreter, and is the starting point for ports to all other platforms. (Go to /pub/python/src on ftp.python.org.)

• py152.tgz (2.5 MB): gzipped tar file.
• (Alternatively, the previous release: pyth151.tgz (2.2 MB): gzipped tar file.)

Important note for Windows users:If you download the sources, some browsers give the resulting file an extension .tar, which confuses WinZip. Changing the extension to .tgz makes the problem go away.

On Unix, you need gzip to unzip this. If you don't have this (very unlikely, ask your sysadmin!), you can find it at various GNU sites.

We no longer provide binary distributions for Unix, except for Linux (thanks to Oliver Andrich).

Build Instructions for Unix

The Unix build and install process is explained clearly in the README file contained in the distribution. Be sure to look for the sections with platform specific notes and the trouble shooting section. Hints: if the configure script fails, read the file config.log; after changing configuration options, always run "make clean" and perhaps remove config.cache.

Build Instructions for Windows 95/98/NT

The build process is explained clearly in the file PC/readme.txt contained in the distribution. Only MSVC++ 5.0 and 4.2 are supported. (Although the source presumably still compiles with the Borland compilers, and there is support for it in config.h, there are currently no Borland project or Makefiles. We lack the personnel to spend time supporting alternate compilers, and nobody has volunteered yet.) Make sure to copy the workspace and project files from PC/vc5x into PCbuild, and build in the latter directory.

TBD: mention support for Cygnus compilers and DJGPP.