This document describes how to build and install Ice for Python from source code on Windows. If you prefer, you can also download binary distributions for the supported platforms.
Ice for Python is expected to build and run properly on Windows and was extensively tested using the operating systems and compiler versions listed for our supported platforms.
Ice for Python supports Python versions 2.6, 2.7, 3.3 or 3.4. Note however that your Python installation must have been built with a C++ compiler that is compatible with the one used to build Ice for C++.
You will need the Ice development kit for C++, which you can install as a binary distribution or compile from source yourself.
The Python interpreter is readily available on Windows platforms. You can build it yourself using Microsoft Visual C++, or obtain a binary distribution from the Python web site. The Python 3.4.x binary distribution is compiled with Visual C++ 10, and you should use this binary distribution if you want to compile the Ice extension with Visual C++ 10.
Open a command prompt that supports command-line compilation with Visual C++.
For example, you can execute the Visual C++ batch file vcvars32.bat to
configure your environment. Alternatively, you can start a Visual Studio Command
Prompt by selecting the appropriate entry from the Visual Studio program group
in your Start menu.
Change to the Ice for Python source subdirectory:
> cd python
If you have not built Ice for C++ from the cpp subdirectory, set ICE_HOME
to the directory of your Ice for C++ installation. For example:
> set ICE_HOME=C:\Ice
Edit config\Make.rules.mak and review the settings. In particular you must set
CPP_COMPILER to the appropriate compiler.
Run nmake:
> nmake /f Makefile.mak
Upon completion, the Ice extension is created as python\IcePy.pyd.
Normally you should build with
OPTIMIZE=yes. If you wish to build a debug version of the Ice extension, setOPTIMIZE=no. In this case, you will also need to build a debug version of the Python interpreter from sources.
Modify your environment to allow Python to find the Ice extension for Python.
The interpreter must be able to locate the extension DLL as well as the Python
source files in the python subdirectory. This is normally accomplished by
setting the PYTHONPATH environment variable to contain the necessary
subdirectory. For example, if the Ice for Python extension is installed in
C:\Ice, you could configure your environment as follows:
> set PYTHONPATH=C:\Ice\python
After a successful build, you can run the tests as follows:
$ python allTests.py
If everything worked out, you should see lots of ok messages. In case of a
failure, the tests abort with failed.