55 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
55 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
# Python Win9x
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A clean-room effort to build a useful Python 3 runtime for Windows 98 SE and
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other Windows 9x systems, using CPython **v3.11.16** as the language/runtime
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baseline and Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 as the initial 32-bit toolchain.
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## Current state
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This is an experimental porting workspace, not a completed Windows 98 build.
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The CPython baseline is kept in `cpython/` at tag `v3.11.16`. The MSVC600
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bundle is kept in `MSVC600/` as a local external prerequisite and is not part of
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the distributable project source.
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The first VC6 compiler probe succeeds under Wine. A direct compile of
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`cpython/Programs/python.c` currently fails in CPython headers because VC6
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lacks or does not understand several facilities used by CPython 3.11:
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- C99 `inttypes.h` and related integer-format definitions
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- C99 `inline` syntax in C mode
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- newer `__declspec(deprecated)` annotations
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- modern pointer-width/type configuration expected by `pyport.h`
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- the CPython 3.11 Visual Studio/MSBuild project model
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These are expected porting blockers and are recorded in `PORT_STATUS.md`.
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## Toolchain policy
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- Do not commit Microsoft compiler binaries or proprietary runtime files.
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- Keep MSVC600 outside the source distribution or obtain it separately under
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the user's own license/rights.
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- The project is intended for private Gitea only.
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- Do not copy proprietary Windows implementation code into the compatibility
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layer.
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## Intended milestones
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1. Build a minimal CPython core with VC6 using a project-local compatibility
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header layer.
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2. Replace NT-only Windows APIs with ANSI/Win9x-compatible implementations or
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explicit feature gates.
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3. Produce a bootable 32-bit Python executable and test it on Windows 98 SE,
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first with the core interpreter and basic file I/O.
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4. Add sockets and a carefully scoped standard-library subset.
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5. Backport selected newer Python language/library features only after the
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runtime is stable on Win9x.
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## Local prerequisites
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- CPython v3.11.16 source in `cpython/`
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- MSVC600 tools in `MSVC600/` (external/local-only)
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- Wine for exercising the Windows compiler from Linux
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- A Windows 98 SE VM or physical test machine for final compatibility checks
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No full build is claimed yet.
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