Python Wrapper and Packaging ============================ This directory contains the basic setup script and directory structure for the gtsam python module. During the build of gtsam, when GTSAM_BUILD_PYTHON is enabled, the following instructions will run. * Wrap parses gtsam.h and constructs a cpp file called ${moduleName}_python.cpp * This file is then compiled and linked with BoostPython, generating a shared library which can then be imported by python * The shared library is then copied to python/gtsam * The user can use the setup.py script to build and install a python package, allowing easy importing into a python project. Examples: * python setup.py sdist ---- Builds a tarball of the python package which can then be distributed * python setup.py install ---- Installs the package into the python dist-packages folder. Can then be imported from any python file. * python setup.py install --prefix="your/local/install/path"---- Installs the package into a local instalation folder. Can then be imported from any python file if _prefix_/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages is present in your $PYTHONPATH * To run the unit tests, you must first install the package on your path (TODO: Make this easier) TODO: There are many issues with this build system, but these are the basics.