What is the difference between python3.lib and python3x.lib In the Python installation libs folder?

Question

I've been compiling a C library, and linking in the Python3 lib files for Python bindings. I've been using the python39.lib file as the link, but I was wondering what the difference is between the 'versioned' number (e.g. python3x.lib) vs the non versioned one (python3.lib).

In answer to a question, forgot to mention that this is compiling on windows using gcc.

Thanks

Which platform? Linux? Windows? macos? Did you check that one is not a link to the other? — Matthieu Brucher, Jan 27 '21 at 13:55
@MatthieuBrucher Platform is windows. No i havent, how would I determine that one is linked to another? — ArcJamMcE, Jan 27 '21 at 14:14

yoonghm · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-27T23:41:41.257

3

python3.lib only contains key library functions used by cpython program (or C extension for Python). python3x.lib (such as python38.lib, python39.lib) contains the full library functions. You should link to python3.lib so that your build configuration is not affected by minor Python version upgrade such as from 3.8 to 3.9.

The linking is very platform and compiler dependent. See code comment in the PC/pyconfig.h (See reference [3]).

Additional info

edited Jan 27 '21 at 23:41

answered Jan 27 '21 at 13:53

yoonghm

4,198
1
32
48

No answer on the `python3x.lib` which is the issue? – Matthieu Brucher Jan 27 '21 at 13:56
The question is about the `lib` file, so your answer should mention the file, not point to a link where the author can maybe find the file. – Matthieu Brucher Jan 27 '21 at 14:01
@yoonghm That is interesting, thanks. Any chance you have a link to a source i can read into about this? – ArcJamMcE Jan 27 '21 at 14:16

What is the difference between python3.lib and python3x.lib In the Python installation libs folder?

1 Answers1

Linked