Man page 8 : update-python-modules

update-python-modules - byte-compile python modules

update-python-modules [ options "] [" package.public " [...]]"

The

update-python-modules command is part of the

python-support bundle.

update-python-modules is responsible for the byte-compilation of python modules. When used in byte-compilation mode, it will byte-compile modules references in the files given on the command line. When used in installation mode, it will byte-compile them once for each installed python version, and will make them available for all of them.

At each invocation, with or without arguments,

update-python-modules will check for installed python versions, and will build or remove modules according to new or removed versions since the last time it was run.

Arguments must be files or directories located in the /usr/share/python-supportdirectory. Depending on their extension, they are treated differently.

• package .public
      A file listing public modules to install for each version. These modules must lie in /usr/share/pysharedor /usr/lib/pyshared .
• package .private
      A file listing private modules to byte-compile for one Python version.
• package /
      A legacy directory hierarchy of public modules. The C extensions and portions that change with the Python version are to be found in /usr/lib/python-support/python X.Y / package / .
• package.dirs
      A legacy file listing directories where to find private modules.

-h, --help

    Show summary of options.

-v, --verbose

    Detail all actions while they are performed.

-b, --bytecompile

    Only accept to work on private modules. When given this option,

update-python-modules will fail if passed references to public modules.

-i, --install

    Only accept to work on public modules. When given this option,

update-python-modules will fail if passed references to public modules.

-c, --clean

    Clean modules instead of installing them.

-a, --rebuild-all

    Rebuild all private modules. This is necessary when the default python version was changed, for example.

-f, --force-rebuild-all Clean all modules (public and private), and rebuild them.

• /usr/lib/pymodules/python X.Y /
      These directories contain the byte-compiled modules for version python X.Y .

/usr/share/doc/python-support/README.gz

Josselin Mouette <>.