[Numpy-discussion] Re: Current SVN segfaults under VC7

[Robert Kern]

Fernando Perez wrote:
> Zachary Pincus wrote:
> 
>> I've seen this too, and been able to fix it by removing the build 
>> directory and rebuilding everything.
>>
>> I wonder if there's a bug in numpy's dependency checking that's 
>> causing certain files to not get rebuilt when they ought. I recently 
>> updated to the SVN head, and numpy segfaulted on import, just as you 
>> describe. After puttering around with GDB, it looked like some of the 
>> code was out of synch with other parts of the code, so I decided to 
>> rebuild from scratch.
>>
>> After I deleted the entire numpy build directory ('python setup.py 
>> clean' *did not* work) and re-built, things worked just fine. I've 
>> also had this problem with scipy, and the same solution applied.
>>
>> Anyhow, try removing all traces of build products from the numpy 
>> directory and rebuilding... maybe that will fix things.
> 
> Just a hint from experience: do NOT trust distutils to do proper
> dependency management and know what to rebuild and what not to. 

Generally it does an okay job, I think. numpy does quite a lot with generated
code, however, and distutils *does* have a hard time with that. Unfortunately, I
don't think there is much we can do about that without replacing even more of
distutils.

> Most of
> us have settled on some variation of:

...

> With that, I can just type
> 
> ./makepkg numpy
> 
> or
> 
> ./makepkg scipy
> 
> and I'm almost sure it will do the right thing.
> 
> I wonder if we shouldn't add this to the wiki as the recommended
> procedure for builds (at least under *nix).  I know it allows me to do
> fresh svn builds of numpy/scipy at any time without having to think (a
> process rarely successful within the confines of my skull).

+1. At least until 1.0 when the C API settles down.

-- 
Robert Kern
robert.kern at gmail.com

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma
 that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had
 an underlying truth."
  -- Umberto Eco