The Build System — SIP 4.13.2 Reference Guide

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# The Build System

The purpose of the build system is to make it easy for you to write configuration scripts in Python for your own bindings. The build system takes care of the details of particular combinations of platform and compiler. It supports over 50 different platform/compiler combinations.

The build system is implemented as a pure Python module called `sipconfig` that contains a number of classes and functions. Using this module you can write bespoke configuration scripts (e.g. PyQt’s `configure.py`) or use it with other Python based build systems (e.g. Distutils and SCons).

An important feature of SIP is the ability to generate bindings that are built on top of existing bindings. For example, both PyKDE and PyQwt are built on top of PyQt but all three packages are maintained by different developers. To make this easier PyQt includes its own configuration module, `pyqtconfig`, that contains additional classes intended to be used by the configuration scripts of bindings built on top of PyQt. The SIP build system includes facilities that do a lot of the work of creating these additional configuration modules.

`sipconfig.` `create_config_module`(module, template, content[, macros=None])

  This creates a configuration module (e.g. `pyqtconfig`) from a template file and a string.

  Parameters: | module – the name of the configuration module file to create. template – the name of the template file. content – a string which replaces every occurence of the pattern `@SIP_CONFIGURATION@` in the template file. The content string is usually created from a Python dictionary using `sipconfig.create_content()`. content may also be a dictionary, in which case `sipconfig.create_content()` is automatically called to convert it to a string. macros – an optional dictionary of platform specific build macros. It is only used if `sipconfig.create_content()` is called automatically to convert a content dictionary to a string.

`sipconfig.` `create_content`(dict[, macros=None]) → string

  This converts a Python dictionary to a string that can be parsed by the Python interpreter and converted back to an equivalent dictionary. It is typically used to generate the content string for `sipconfig.create_config_module()`.

  Parameters: | dict – the Python dictionary to convert. macros – the optional dictionary of platform specific build macros.
  Returns: | the string representation of the dictionary.

`sipconfig.` `create_wrapper`(script, wrapper[, gui=0[, use_arch='']]) → string

  This creates a platform dependent executable wrapper around a Python script.

  Parameters: | script – the full pathname of the script. wrapper – the full pathname of the wrapper to create, excluding any platform specific extension. gui – is non-zero if a GUI enabled version of the interpreter should be used on platforms that require it. use_arch – is the MacOS/X architecture to invoke python with.
  Returns: | the platform specific name of the wrapper.

`sipconfig.` `error`(msg)

  This displays an error message on `stderr` and calls `sys.exit(1)`.

  Parameters: | msg – the text of the message and should not include any newline characters.

`sipconfig.` `format`(msg[, leftmargin=0[, rightmargin=78]]) → string

  This formats a message by inserting newline characters at appropriate places.

  Parameters: | msg – the text of the message and should not include any newline characters. leftmargin – the optional position of the left margin. rightmargin – the optional position of the right margin.
  Returns: | the formatted message.

`sipconfig.` `inform`(msg)

  This displays an information message on `stdout`.

  Parameters: | msg – the text of the message and should not include any newline characters.

`sipconfig.` `parse_build_macros`(filename, names[, overrides=None[, properties=None]]) → dict

  This parses a `qmake` compatible file of build system macros and converts it to a dictionary. A macro is a name/value pair. Individual macros may be augmented or replaced.

  Parameters: | filename – the name of the file to parse. names – the list of the macro names to extract from the file. overrides – the optional list of macro names and values that modify those found in the file. They are of the form `name=value` (in which case the value replaces the value found in the file) or `name+=value` (in which case the value is appended to the value found in the file). properties – the optional dictionary of property name and values that are used to resolve any expressions of the form `$[name]` in the file.
  Returns: | the dictionary of parsed macros or `None` if any of the overrides were invalid.

`sipconfig.` `read_version`(filename, description[, numdefine=None[, strdefine=None]]) → integer, string

  This extracts version information for a package from a file, usually a C or C++ header file. The version information must each be specified as a `#define` of a numeric (hexadecimal or decimal) value and/or a string value.

  Parameters: | filename – the name of the file to read. description – a descriptive name of the package used in error messages. numdefine – the optional name of the `#define` of the version as a number. If it is `None` then the numeric version is ignored. strdefine – the optional name of the `#define` of the version as a string. If it is `None` then the string version is ignored.
  Returns: | a tuple of the numeric and string versions. `sipconfig.error()` is called if either were required but could not be found.

`sipconfig.` `version_to_sip_tag`(version, tags, description) → string

  This converts a version number to a SIP version tag. SIP uses the `%Timeline` directive to define the chronology of the different versions of the C/C++ library being wrapped. Typically it is not necessary to define a version tag for every version of the library, but only for those versions that affect the library’s API as SIP sees it.

  Parameters: | version – the numeric version number of the C/C++ library being wrapped. If it is negative then the latest version is assumed. (This is typically useful if a snapshot is indicated by a negative version number.) tags – the dictionary of SIP version tags keyed by the corresponding C/C++ library version number. The tag used is the one with the smallest key (i.e. earliest version) that is greater than version. description – a descriptive name of the C/C++ library used in error messages.
  Returns: | the SIP version tag. `sipconfig.error()` is called if the C/C++ library version number did not correspond to a SIP version tag.

`sipconfig.` `version_to_string`(v) → string

  This converts a 3 part version number encoded as a hexadecimal value to a string.

  Parameters: | v – the version number.
  Returns: | a string.

class `sipconfig.` `Configuration`

  This class encapsulates configuration values that can be accessed as instance objects. A sub-class may provide a dictionary of additional configuration values in its constructor the elements of which will have precedence over the super-class’s values.

  The following configuration values are provided:

  `default_bin_dir`

    The name of the directory where executables should be installed by default.

  `default_mod_dir`

    The name of the directory where SIP generated modules should be installed by default.

  `default_sip_dir`

    The name of the base directory where the `.sip` files for SIP generated modules should be installed by default. A sub-directory with the same name as the module should be created and its `.sip` files should be installed in the sub-directory. The `.sip` files only need to be installed if you might want to build other bindings based on them.

  `platform`

    The name of the platform/compiler for which the build system has been configured for.

  `py_conf_inc_dir`

    The name of the directory containing the `pyconfig.h` header file.

  `py_inc_dir`

    The name of the directory containing the `Python.h` header file.

  `py_lib_dir`

    The name of the directory containing the Python interpreter library.

  `py_version`

    The Python version as a 3 part hexadecimal number (e.g. v2.3.3 is represented as `0x020303`).

  `sip_bin`

    The full pathname of the SIP executable.

  `sip_config_args`

    The command line passed to `configure.py` when SIP was configured.

  `sip_inc_dir`

    The name of the directory containing the `sip.h` header file.

  `sip_mod_dir`

    The name of the directory containing the SIP module.

  `sip_version`

    The SIP version as a 3 part hexadecimal number (e.g. v4.0.0 is represented as `0x040000`).

  `sip_version_str`

    The SIP version as a string. For development snapshots it will start with `snapshot-`.

  `universal`

    The name of the MacOS/X SDK used when creating universal binaries.

  `arch`

    The space separated MacOS/X architectures to build.

  `deployment_target`

    The MacOS/X deployment target.

  `__init__`([sub_cfg=None])

    Parameters: | sub_cfg – an optional list of sub-class configurations. It should only be used by the `__init__()` method of a sub-class to append its own dictionary of configuration values before passing the list to its super-class.

  `build_macros`() → dict

    Get the dictionary of platform specific build macros.

    Returns: | the macros dictionary.

  `set_build_macros`(macros)

    Set the dictionary of platform specific build macros to be used when generating Makefiles. Normally there is no need to change the default macros.

    Parameters: | macros – the macros dictionary.

class `sipconfig.` `Makefile`

  This class encapsulates a Makefile. It is intended to be sub-classed to generate Makefiles for particular purposes. It handles all platform and compiler specific flags, but allows them to be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular module or program. These are defined using a number of macros which can be accessed as instance attributes.

  The following instance attributes are provided to help in fine tuning the generated Makefile:

  `chkdir`

    A string that will check for the existence of a directory.

  `config`

    A reference to the configuration argument that was passed to `Makefile.__init__()`.

  `console`

    A reference to the console argument that was passed to the `Makefile.__init__()`.

  `copy`

    A string that will copy a file.

  `extra_cflags`

    A list of additional flags passed to the C compiler.

  `extra_cxxflags`

    A list of additional flags passed to the C++ compiler.

  `extra_defines`

    A list of additional macro names passed to the C/C++ preprocessor.

  `extra_include_dirs`

    A list of additional include directories passed to the C/C++ preprocessor.

  `extra_lflags`

    A list of additional flags passed to the linker.

  `extra_lib_dirs`

    A list of additional library directories passed to the linker.

  `extra_libs`

    A list of additional libraries passed to the linker. The names of the libraries must be in platform neutral form (i.e. without any platform specific prefixes, version numbers or extensions).

  `generator`

    A string that defines the platform specific style of Makefile. The only supported values are `UNIX`, `MSVC`, `MSVC.NET`, `MINGW` and `BMAKE`.

  `mkdir`

    A string that will create a directory.

  `rm`

    A string that will remove a file.

  `__init__`(configuration[, console=0[, qt=0[, opengl=0[, python=0[, threaded=0[, warnings=None[, debug=0[, dir=None[, makefile="Makefile"[, installs=None[, universal=None[, arch=None[, deployment_target=None]]]]]]]]]]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – the current configuration and is an instance of the `Configuration` class or a sub-class. console – is set if the target is a console (rather than GUI) target. This only affects Windows and is ignored on other platforms. qt – is set if the target uses Qt. For Qt v4 a list of Qt libraries may be specified and a simple non-zero value implies QtCore and QtGui. opengl – is set if the target uses OpenGL. python – is set if the target uses Python.h. threaded – is set if the target requires thread support. It is set automatically if the target uses Qt and Qt has thread support enabled. warnings – is set if compiler warning messages should be enabled. The default of `None` means that warnings are enabled for SIP v4.x and disabled for SIP v3.x. debug – is set if debugging symbols should be generated. dir – the name of the directory where build files are read from (if they are not absolute file names) and Makefiles are written to. The default of `None` means the current directory is used. makefile – the name of the generated Makefile. installs – the list of extra install targets. Each element is a two part list, the first of which is the source and the second is the destination. If the source is another list then it is a list of source files and the destination is a directory. universal – the name of the SDK if universal binaries are to be created under MacOS/X. If it is `None` then the value is taken from the configuration. arch – the space separated MacOS/X architectures to build. If it is `None` then the value is taken from the configuration. deployment_target – the MacOS/X deployment target. If it is `None` then the value is taken from the configuration.

  `clean_build_file_objects`(mfile, build)

    This generates the Makefile commands that will remove any files generated during the build of the default target.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile. build – the dictionary created from parsing the build file.

  `finalise`()

    This is called just before the Makefile is generated to ensure that it is fully configured. It must be reimplemented by a sub-class.

  `generate`()

    This generates the Makefile.

  `generate_macros_and_rules`(mfile)

    This is the default implementation of the Makefile macros and rules generation.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile.

  `generate_target_clean`(mfile)

    This is the default implementation of the Makefile clean target generation.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile.

  `generate_target_default`(mfile)

    This is the default implementation of the Makefile default target generation.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile.

  `generate_target_install`(mfile)

    This is the default implementation of the Makefile install target generation.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile.

  `install_file`(mfile, src, dst[, strip=0])

    This generates the Makefile commands to install one or more files to a directory.

    Parameters: | mfile – the Python file object of the Makefile. src – the name of a single file to install or a list of a number of files to install. dst – the name of the destination directory. strip – is set if the files should be stripped of unneeded symbols after having been installed.

  `optional_list`(name) → list

    This returns an optional Makefile macro as a list.

    Parameters: | name – the name of the macro.
    Returns: | the macro as a list.

  `optional_string`(name[, default=""])

    This returns an optional Makefile macro as a string.

    Parameters: | name – the name of the macro. default – the optional default value of the macro.
    Returns: | the macro as a string.

  `parse_build_file`(filename) → dict

    This parses a build file (created with the -b SIP command line option) and converts it to a dictionary. It can also validate an existing dictionary created through other means.

    Parameters: | filename – is the name of the build file, or is a dictionary to be validated. A valid dictionary will contain the name of the target to build (excluding any platform specific extension) keyed by `target`; the names of all source files keyed by `sources`; and, optionally, the names of all header files keyed by `headers`.
    Returns: | a dictionary corresponding to the parsed build file.

  `platform_lib`(clib[, framework=0]) → string

    This converts a library name to a platform specific form.

    Parameters: | clib – the name of the library in cannonical form. framework – is set if the library is implemented as a MacOS framework.
    Returns: | the platform specific name.

  `ready`()

    This is called to ensure that the Makefile is fully configured. It is normally called automatically when needed.

  `required_string`(name) → string

    This returns a required Makefile macro as a string.

    Parameters: | name – the name of the macro.
    Returns: | the macro as a string. An exception is raised if the macro does not exist or has an empty value.

class `sipconfig.` `ModuleMakefile`

  This class is derived from `sipconfig.Makefile`.

  This class encapsulates a Makefile to build a generic Python extension module.

  `__init__`(self, configuration, build_file[, install_dir=None[, static=0[, console=0[, opengl=0[, threaded=0[, warnings=None[, debug=0[, dir=None[, makefile="Makefile"[, installs=None[, strip=1[, export_all=0[, universal=None[, arch=None[, deployment_target=None]]]]]]]]]]]]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. build_file – the name of the build file. Build files are generated using the -b SIP command line option. install_dir – the name of the directory where the module will be optionally installed. static – is set if the module should be built as a static library (see Builtin Modules and Custom Interpreters). console – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. qt – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. opengl – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. threaded – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. warnings – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. debug – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. dir – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. makefile – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. installs – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. strip – is set if the module should be stripped of unneeded symbols after installation. It is ignored if either debug or static is set, or if the platform doesn’t support it. export_all – is set if all of the module’s symbols should be exported rather than just the module’s initialisation function. Exporting all symbols increases the size of the module and slows down module load times but may avoid problems with modules that use C++ exceptions. All symbols are exported if either debug or static is set, or if the platform doesn’t support it. universal – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. arch – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. deployment_target – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`.

  `finalise`()

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.finalise()`.

  `generate_macros_and_rules`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_macros_and_rules()`.

  `generate_target_clean`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_clean()`.

  `generate_target_default`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_default()`.

  `generate_target_install`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_install()`.

  `module_as_lib`(mname) → string

    This gets the name of a SIP v3.x module for when it is used as a library to be linked against. An exception will be raised if it is used with SIP v4.x modules.

    Parameters: | mname – the name of the module.
    Returns: | the corresponding library name.

class `sipconfig.` `ParentMakefile`

  This class is derived from `sipconfig.Makefile`.

  This class encapsulates a Makefile that sits above a number of other Makefiles in sub-directories.

  `__init__`(self, configuration, subdirs[, dir=None[, makefile[="Makefile"[, installs=None]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. subdirs – the sequence of sub-directories. dir – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. makefile – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. installs – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`.

  `generate_macros_and_rules`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_macros_and_rules()`.

  `generate_target_clean`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_clean()`.

  `generate_target_default`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_default()`.

  `generate_target_install`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_install()`.

class `sipconfig.` `ProgramMakefile`

  This class is derived from `sipconfig.Makefile`.

  This class encapsulates a Makefile to build an executable program.

  `__init__`(configuration[, build_file=None[, install_dir=None[, console=0[, qt=0[, opengl=0[, python=0[, threaded=0[, warnings=None[, debug=0[, dir=None[, makefile="Makefile"[, installs=None[, universal=None[, arch=None[, deployment_target=None]]]]]]]]]]]]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. build_file – the name of the optional build file. Build files are generated using the -b SIP command line option. install_dir – the name of the directory where the executable program will be optionally installed. console – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. qt – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. opengl – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. python – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. threaded – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. warnings – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. debug – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. dir – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. makefile – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. installs – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. universal – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. arch – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. deployment_target – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`.

  `build_command`(source) → string, string

    This creates a single command line that will create an executable program from a single source file.

    Parameters: | source – the name of the source file.
    Returns: | a tuple of the name of the executable that will be created and the command line.

  `finalise`()

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.finalise()`.

  `generate_macros_and_rules`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_macros_and_rules()`.

  `generate_target_clean`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_clean()`.

  `generate_target_default`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_default()`.

  `generate_target_install`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_install()`.

class `sipconfig.` `PythonModuleMakefile`

  This class is derived from `sipconfig.Makefile`.

  This class encapsulates a Makefile that installs a pure Python module.

  `__init__`(self, configuration, dstdir[, srcdir=None[, dir=None[, makefile="Makefile"[, installs=None]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. dstdir – the name of the directory in which the module’s Python code will be installed. srcdir – the name of the directory (relative to dir) containing the module’s Python code. It defaults to the same directory. dir – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. makefile – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. installs – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`.

  `generate_macros_and_rules`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_macros_and_rules()`.

  `generate_target_install`(mfile)

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.generate_target_install()`.

class `sipconfig.` `SIPModuleMakefile`

  This class is derived from `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile`.

  This class encapsulates a Makefile to build a SIP generated Python extension module.

  `__init__`(self, configuration, build_file[, install_dir=None[, static=0[, console=0[, opengl=0[, threaded=0[, warnings=None[, debug=0[, dir=None[, makefile="Makefile"[, installs=None[, strip=1[, export_all=0[, universal=None[, arch=None[, prot_is_public=0[, deployment_target=None]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]])

    Parameters: | configuration – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. build_file – see `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile.__init__()`. install_dir – see `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile.__init__()`. static – see `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile.__init__()`. console – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. qt – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. opengl – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. threaded – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. warnings – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. debug – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. dir – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. makefile – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. installs – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. strip – see `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile.__init__()`. export_all – see `sipconfig.ModuleMakefile.__init__()`. universal – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. arch – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`. prot_is_public – is set if `protected` should be redefined as `public` when compiling the generated module. deployment_target – see `sipconfig.Makefile.__init__()`.

  `finalise`()

    This is a reimplementation of `sipconfig.Makefile.finalise()`.

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