Below are general instructions for how to build Python from source and prepare virtual environments for building and running pyvgx.

1. Overview

# 1. Get Python source
# Make directory and download source
# <version> example: 3.12.9
mkdir pythonsrc
cd pythonsrc
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/<version>/Python-<version>.tgz
# Extract
tar xzf Python-<version>.tgz
cd Python-<version>

# 2. Build Python and prepare virtual environments
# (see OS-specific instructions below)

2. Python Source

Python 3.9 - 3.14 tarball download
# (Update links and new versions are released)
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.9.13/Python-3.9.13.tgz
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.11/Python-3.10.11.tgz
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.11.9/Python-3.11.9.tgz
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.12.9/Python-3.12.9.tgz
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.13.5/Python-3.13.5.tgz
curl -O https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.14.0/Python-3.14.0.tgz

3. Build Python (MacOS, Linux, Windows)

To build Python and prepare virtual environment:

  1. Set required environment variables

  2. Execute build

    • MacOS / Linux

      • Run configure script to generate Makefile

      • Run make and make install

      • Patch output binaries to correct linker path

    • Windows

      • Run build.bat

  3. Generate and active virtual environment

  4. Install required Python packages

3.1. MacOS

Make sure your environment is ready to build C code.

Ensure MacOS C development environment is ready
# Install Homebrew (if not installed)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install Command Line Tools
xcode-select --install

# Install Latest LLVM/Clang
brew install llvm

# Use Homebrew's Clang
echo 'export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export LDFLAGS="-L/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm/lib"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export CPPFLAGS="-I/opt/homebrew/opt/llvm/include"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Now you can build Python on MacOS:

Build Python on MacOS and prepare for use
# 1. Make compatible from 14 and up
export MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=14.0

# 2. Extract Python version to match downloaded source code
DIR_NAME=$(basename "$PWD")
PY_MINOR=$(echo "$DIR_NAME" | sed -E 's/^Python-[0-9]+\.([0-9]+)\..*/\1/')

# 3. Set up LDFLAGS for rpath — helpful for embedded or relocatable binaries
export LDFLAGS="-Wl,-rpath,@loader_path"

# 4. Generate Makefile
# Python will be installed in your home directory (change --prefix if needed)
./configure \
    --prefix=$HOME/python3$PY_MINOR \
    --enable-shared \
    --enable-optimizations \
    --with-openssl=$(brew --prefix openssl)

# 5. Build and install
make -j$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
make install

# 6. Fix the linker path
install_name_tool -id @rpath/libpython3.$PY_MINOR.dylib \
    $HOME/python3$PY_MINOR/lib/libpython3.$PY_MINOR.dylib

# 7. Generate virtual environment in home directory
cd ~
python3$PY_MINOR/bin/python3 -m venv venv3$PY_MINOR

# 8. Activate virtual environment and install required Python packages
. venv3$PY_MINOR/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install --upgrade setuptools build wheel delocate

3.2. Linux

Make sure your environment is ready to build C code.

Ensure Linux C development environment is ready
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential clang lld patchelf
# -- OR --
# Fedora/RHEL
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"
sudo dnf install -y clang lld patchelf

Now you can build Python on Linux:

Build Python on Linux and prepare for use
# 1. Extract Python version to match downloaded source code
DIR_NAME=$(basename "$PWD")
PY_MINOR=$(echo "$DIR_NAME" | sed -E 's/^Python-[0-9]+\.([0-9]+)\..*/\1/')

# 2. Prepare OpenSSL
OPENSSL_PREFIX=$(pkg-config --variable=prefix openssl)
export LDFLAGS="-L${OPENSSL_PREFIX}/lib"
export CPPFLAGS="-I$OPENSSL_PREFIX/include"

# 3. Generate Makefile
# Python will be installed in your home directory (change --prefix if needed)
./configure \
    --prefix=$HOME/python3$PY_MINOR \
    --enable-shared \
    --enable-optimizations \
    --with-openssl=$OPENSSL_PREFIX

# 4. Build and install
make -j"$(nproc)"
make install

# 5. Fix the linker path
patchelf --set-rpath '$ORIGIN/../lib' $HOME/python3${PY_MINOR}/bin/python3.${PY_MINOR}

# 6. Generate virtual environment in home directory
cd ~
python3$PY_MINOR/bin/python3 -m venv venv3$PY_MINOR

# 7. Activate virtual environment and install required Python packages
. venv3$PY_MINOR/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install --upgrade setuptools build wheel auditwheel

3.3. Windows

Make sure your environment is ready to build C code.

  1. Install Visual Studio (Community Edition is free)
    https://visualstudio.microsoft.com

  2. During install, select:
    Desktop development with C++

Now you can build Python on Windows:

Build Python on Windows and prepare for use
rem --- 1 ---
rem Manually set PY_MINOR to one of the following:
rem 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
rem Make sure the version matches the source code you're building
rem e.g. for Python-3.10.11:
set PY_MINOR=10

rem --- 2 ---
rem Python source contains a special sub directory for Windows builds
cd PCBuild

rem --- 3 ---
rem Execute build
build.bat -e

rem --- 4 ---
rem Generate virtual environment in home directory
amd64\python -m venv C:%HOMEPATH%\venv3%PY_MINOR%

rem --- 5 ---
rem Activate virtual environment and install required Python packages
call C:%HOMEPATH%\venv3%PY_MINOR%\Scripts\activate.bat
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
pip install --upgrade setuptools build wheel

4. Build PyVGX

Now you are ready to build pyvgx.

PYVGX