[Biopython-dev] 64 bit machines and testing

[Peter]

2010/12/28 Tiago Antão <tiagoantao at gmail.com>:
> Hi all,
>
> I am here setting up a couple of Windows 7 64 bit test instances. I am
> wondering about the status of 64 bit (bio)python.
> As far as I can see, most binaries supplied (e.g. numpy or matplotlib)
> are for 32 bit versions. Therefore I suppose it is fair to assume that
> people are mostly using 32bit Python even on 64bit windows boxes?
> There is this set of 64 bit libs from Christoph Gohlke @
> http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/ but I would imagine, that
> as they are not offered on the default download sites, they would be
> somewhat minority in terms of usage?

My guess is that people that really need 64bit NumPy etc on
Windows compile it themselves or use Christoph Gohlke's
installers. We should probably ask on the NumPy mailing list.

In terms of Biopython, 64bit is fine and well tested on Mac
and Linux - but 64 bit Windows isn't widely used. Again,
Christoph Gohlke could compile it and reported the test
suite passed (IIRC).

> All in all, I have a 64 bit Windows 7 machine and I am trying to
> decide what stuff to install (32 or 64) for integration testing.
> I am currently inclined to have a mix for starters: a 2.6 32bit and a
> 2.7 64 bit. This would give a minimum cover of both W7 AND 64 bit.

A mix sounds very sensible, covering both 32 and 64 bit.
Potentially your machine could be used to prepare "official"
64 bit Windows installers for Biopython... but I'd like there
to be official NumPy installers first.

Peter