Convert `_sysconfigdata` to a JSON file
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- Dominant language
- Python
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Description
Feature or enhancement
Proposal:
Currently, as part of the sysconfig internals, we generate a _sysconfigdata Python module containing the variables for sysconfig.get_config_vars(). This data is consists of all Makefile variables, which can be encoded as JSON data.
The use of a module instead of a text file is historic, and adds unnecessary complexity. Converting _sysconfigdata to a JSON file would simplify the sysconfig implementation. Additionally, it also makes it easier for tools to introspect the Python installation, as this would remove the necessity to execute Python code to read _sysconfigdata.
Has this already been discussed elsewhere?
No response given
Links to previous discussion of this feature:
No response
Linked PRs
- gh-127180
- gh-127302
- gh-128558
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by reading the sysconfig internals that generate and consume the _sysconfigdata Python module, then review linked PRs gh-127180, gh-127302, and gh-128558. Done means the configuration data is represented as JSON, sysconfig.get_config_vars() still works, and tools can inspect the installation without executing Python code.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- build-system
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100