.. data:: prefix
A string giving the site-specific directory prefix where the platform
- independent Python files are installed; by default, this is the string
+ independent Python files are installed; on Unix, the default is
``'/usr/local'``. This can be set at build time with the ``--prefix``
- argument to the :program:`configure` script. The main collection of Python
- library modules is installed in the directory :file:`{prefix}/lib/python{X.Y}`
- while the platform independent header files (all except :file:`pyconfig.h`) are
- stored in :file:`{prefix}/include/python{X.Y}`, where *X.Y* is the version
- number of Python, for example ``3.2``.
+ argument to the :program:`configure` script. See
+ :ref:`installation_paths` for derived paths.
.. note:: If a :ref:`virtual environment <venv-def>` is in effect, this
value will be changed in ``site.py`` to point to the virtual
>>> sysconfig.get_config_vars('AR', 'CXX')
['ar', 'g++']
+.. _installation_paths:
Installation paths
------------------
Distutils-based system will follow the same scheme to copy its file in the right
places.
-Python currently supports seven schemes:
+Python currently supports six schemes:
- *posix_prefix*: scheme for POSIX platforms like Linux or macOS. This is
the default scheme used when Python or a component is installed.
located under the user home directory.
- *nt*: scheme for NT platforms like Windows.
- *nt_user*: scheme for NT platforms, when the *user* option is used.
+- *osx_framework_user*: scheme for macOS, when the *user* option is used.
Each scheme is itself composed of a series of paths and each path has a unique
identifier. Python currently uses eight paths: