---
name: "update-python-modules"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "python-support"
version: "1.0.15"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/update-python-modules"
---

# update-python-modules(8)

byte-compile python modules

## NAME

update-python-modules - byte-compile python modules

## SYNOPSIS

**update-python-modules** \[*options*\] \[*package.public* \[...\]\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **update-python-modules** command is part of the **python-support** bundle.

**update-python-modules** is responsible for the byte-compilation of python modules. When used in byte-compilation mode, it will byte-compile modules references in the files given on the command line. When used in installation mode, it will byte-compile them once for each installed python version, and will make them available for all of them.

At each invocation, with or without arguments, **update-python-modules** will check for installed python versions, and will build or remove modules according to new or removed versions since the last time it was run.

## ARGUMENTS

Arguments must be files or directories located in the */usr/share/python-support* directory. Depending on their extension, they are treated differently.

- *package*.public

  A file listing public modules to install for each version. These modules must lie in */usr/share/pyshared* or */usr/lib/pyshared*.

- *package*.private

  A file listing private modules to byte-compile for one Python version.

- *package*/

  A legacy directory hierarchy of public modules. The C extensions and  portions that change with the Python version are to be found in */usr/lib/python-support/python*X.Y*/*package*/*.

- *package.dirs*

  A legacy file listing directories where to find private modules.

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  Show summary of options.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Detail all actions while they are performed.

- **-b, --bytecompile**

  Only accept to work on private modules. When given this option,  **update-python-modules** will fail if passed references to public modules.

- **-i, --install**

  Only accept to work on public modules. When given this option,  **update-python-modules** will fail if passed references to public modules.

- **-c, --clean**

  Clean modules instead of installing them.

- **-a, --rebuild-all**

  Rebuild all private modules. This is necessary when the default python version was changed, for example. .TP **-f, --force-rebuild-all** Clean all modules (public and private), and rebuild them.

## FILES

- */usr/lib/pymodules/python*X.Y*/*

  These directories contain the byte-compiled modules for version python*X.Y*.

## SEE ALSO

/usr/share/doc/python-support/README.gz

## AUTHOR

Josselin Mouette \<joss@debian.org\>.