Notes.md

Python 3.8

• Build from a path that doesn't contain spaces. Otherwise you may get an error 9009 when executing gendef.
• Install HTML Help Compiler.
• Install Sphinx 2.4.5 to a Python 3.6 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable.
• Apply support-vs-2026-1.patch for 3.8.0-3.8.2, support-vs-2026-2.patch for 3.8.3-3.8.12, or support-vs-2026-3.patch for 3.8.13 or higher to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset and the Windows 11 SDK (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/2dd41740c97bd77695ddcc590caa7f53e76dc35a, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply restore-vista-handling-1.patch to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0 and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35.
• Apply build-full-installer-1.patch to include debug symbols and debug binaries in the installer.
• Apply fix-libffi-1.patch for 3.8.0, fix-libffi-2.patch for 3.8.1-3.8.2, fix-libffi-3.patch for 3.8.3, fix-libffi-4.patch for 3.8.4-3.8.5, fix-libffi-5.patch for 3.8.6, fix-libffi-6.patch for 3.8.7, fix-libffi-7.patch for 3.8.8, fix-libffi-8.patch for 3.8.9, fix-libffi-9.patch for 3.8.10-3.8.11, or fix-libffi-10.patch for 3.8.12 to avoid error where libffi-7.lib can't be found (python/cpython#27982).
• Apply fix-htmlhelp.patch to fix error in documentation build (python/cpython#90621).
• Apply fix-chm.patch to fix formatting errors in the .chm help file (python/cpython#91207).
• Apply fix-vcruntime-threads-1.patch for 3.8.3 or higher to fix python/cpython#115167.
• Apply fix-ucrt-1.patch for 3.8.13 or higher to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.9

• Install HTML Help Compiler.
• Install Sphinx 3.5.4 to a Python 3.6 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable.
• Apply support-vs-2026-2.patch for 3.9.0-3.9.6, support-vs-2026-4.patch for 3.9.7-3.9.9, or support-vs-2026-5.patch for 3.9.10 or higher to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024 and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply add-dll-1.patch for 3.9.0-3.9.12, add-dll-2.patch for 3.9.13-3.9.16, add-dll-3.patch for 3.9.17-3.9.18, or add-dll-4.patch for 3.9.19 or higher to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-2.patch to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0 and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35.
• Apply build-full-installer-2.patch for 3.9.0-3.9.10 or build-full-installer-3.patch for 3.9.11 or higher to include debug symbols, debug binaries, and the Universal CRT in the installer.
• Apply fix-libffi-5.patch for 3.9.0, fix-libffi-6.patch for 3.9.1, fix-libffi-7.patch for 3.9.2, fix-libffi-8.patch for 3.9.4, or fix-libffi-9.patch for 3.9.5-3.9.6 to avoid error where libffi-7.lib can't be found (python/cpython#27982).
• Apply fix-guid.patch for 3.9.7 or higher to fix python/cpython#96729.
• Apply fix-htmlhelp.patch for 3.9.0-3.9.10 to fix error in documentation build (python/cpython#90621).
• Apply fix-chm.patch to fix formatting errors in the .chm help file (python/cpython#91207).
• Apply fix-vcruntime-threads-1.patch to fix python/cpython#115167.
• Apply fix-ucrt-1.patch for 3.9.11 or higher to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.10

• Install HTML Help Compiler.
• Install Sphinx 3.5.4 to a Python 3.6 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable.
• Apply support-vs-2026-6.patch for 3.10.0, support-vs-2026-7.patch for 3.10.1-3.10.5, or support-vs-2026-8.patch for 3.10.6-3.10.10, support-vs-2026-9.patch for 3.10.11, or support-vs-2026-10.patch for 3.10.12 or higher to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024 and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply add-dll-1.patch for 3.10.0-3.10.4, add-dll-2.patch for 3.10.5-3.10.8, add-dll-5.patch for 3.10.9, add-dll-6.patch for 3.10.10-3.10.13, or add-dll-4.patch for 3.10.14 or higher to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-2.patch to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0 and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35.
• Apply build-full-installer-2.patch for 3.10.0-3.10.2, build-full-installer-3.patch for 3.10.3-3.10.7, or build-full-installer-4.patch for 3.10.8 or higher to include debug symbols, debug binaries, and the Universal CRT in the installer.
• Apply fix-launcher-1.patch to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx() in the Python Launcher. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/f62dad16b8e540486a0a0fed41e723d36986f860.
• Apply fix-guid.patch for 3.10.0-3.10.7 to fix python/cpython#96729.
• Apply fix-htmlhelp.patch for 3.10.0-3.10.2 to fix error in documentation build (python/cpython#90621).
• Apply fix-chm.patch for 3.10.0-3.10.6 to fix formatting errors in the .chm help file (python/cpython#91207).
• Apply fix-vcruntime-threads-1.patch to fix python/cpython#115167.
• Apply fix-ucrt-1.patch for 3.10.3 or higher to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.11

• For 3.11.0-3.11.7, create a Python 3.9 venv. For 3.11.8 or higher, create a Python 3.10 venv. Set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable.
• Apply support-vs-2026-11.patch to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply fix-sphinx-dependencies.patch for 3.11.0-3.11.7 to fix an error when building the documentation due to incompatible Sphinx dependencies (sphinx-doc/sphinx#11890).
• Apply add-dll-2.patch for 3.11.0, add-dll-5.patch for 3.11.1, add-dll-6.patch for 3.11.2-3.11.7, or add-dll-4.patch for 3.11.8 or higher to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-3.patch for 3.11.0-3.11.3 or restore-vista-handling-4.patch for 3.11.4 or higher to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/55868f1a335cd3853938082a5b25cfba66563135, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024.
• Apply build-full-installer-5.patch for 3.11.0-3.11.8 or build-full-installer-6.patch for 3.11.9 or higher to include debug symbols, debug binaries, and the Universal CRT in the installer.
• Apply fix-launcher-2.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python launcher, to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx(), and to work around bugs in GetPrivateProfileStringW() and RegGetValueW().
• Apply fix-vcruntime-threads-1.patch for 3.11.0-3.11.6 or fix-vcruntime-threads-2.patch for 3.11.7-3.11.8 to fix python/cpython#115167.
• Apply fix-ucrt-2.patch to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.12

• Create a Python 3.11 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable. If building multiple versions in succession, create a fresh new venv with 3.12.0, 3.12.2, 3.12.4, 3.12.5, 3.12.6, 3.12.8, 3.12.9, 3.12.10, 3.12.12, and 3.12.13. Otherwise, the venv can be reused.
• Apply support-vs-2026-11.patch to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply fix-sphinx-dependencies.patch for 3.12.0-3.12.1 to fix an error when building the documentation due to incompatible Sphinx dependencies (sphinx-doc/sphinx#11890).
• Apply add-dll-6.patch for 3.12.0-3.12.1 or add-dll-4.patch for 3.12.2 or higher to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-5.patch to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/55868f1a335cd3853938082a5b25cfba66563135, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/938e36f824c5f834d6b77d47942ad81edd5491d0, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9ae49e3f3bdf585473f03522a1b7dd7c9e4baa6a.
• Apply build-full-installer-5.patch for 3.12.0-3.12.2 or build-full-installer-6.patch for 3.12.3 or higher to include debug symbols, debug binaries, and the Universal CRT in the installer.
• Apply fix-launcher-2.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python launcher, to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx(), and to work around bugs in GetPrivateProfileStringW() and RegGetValueW().
• Apply fix-os-fstat.patch for 3.12.0 to fix an error with os.fstat() (python/cpython#111856).
• Apply fix-vcruntime-threads-1.patch for 3.12.0 or fix-vcruntime-threads-2.patch for 3.12.1-3.12.2 to fix python/cpython#115167.
• Apply fix-sbom.patch for 3.12.4-3.12.5 to fix error in SBOM generation (https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/db42934270c5c23be9f6804cad98dfd8234caf6f).
• Apply fix-ucrt-2.patch to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.13

• Create a Python 3.12 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable. If building multiple versions in succession, create a fresh new venv with 3.13.0, 3.13.1, 3.13.3, 3.13.6, 3.13.10, 3.13.12, and 3.13.13. Otherwise, the venv can be reused.
• Apply support-vs-2026-11.patch for 3.13.0-3.13.7 or support-vs-2026-12.patch for 3.13.8 or higher to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply add-dll-7.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-6.patch for 3.13.0-3.13.14 or restore-vista-handling-7.patch for 3.13.15 or higher to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/55868f1a335cd3853938082a5b25cfba66563135, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/938e36f824c5f834d6b77d47942ad81edd5491d0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9ae49e3f3bdf585473f03522a1b7dd7c9e4baa6a, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/be1c808fcad201adc4d5d6cca52ddb24aeb5e367, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/1d95451be1f3080904c00cc4c4a6cc519efdf321. This also modifies python/cpython#111201 to avoid displaying a warning prior to Windows 10 TH2.
• Apply build-full-installer-7.patch to include debug symbols, debug binaries, the Universal CRT, and the experimental free-threaded build in the installer.
• Apply fix-launcher-2.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python launcher, to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx(), and to work around bugs in GetPrivateProfileStringW() and RegGetValueW().
• Apply fix-ucrt-3.patch for 3.13.0-3.13.7 to fix error installing Universal C Runtime (python/cpython#138896).
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.14

• Create a Python 3.13 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable. If building multiple versions in succession, create a fresh new venv with 3.14.0, 3.14.1, 3.14.3, and 3.14.4. Otherwise, the venv can be reused.
• Apply support-vs-2026-13.patch for 3.14.0 or support-vs-2026-14.patch for 3.14.1 or higher to support building with Visual Studio 2026 using the v145 toolset (derived from https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/c06f4f43015528db45bd6b44b46c057d88b38583).
• Apply add-dll-8.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-8.patch for 3.14.0, restore-vista-handling-9.patch for 3.14.1-3.14.3, restore-vista-handling-10.patch for 3.14.4-3.14.5, restore-vista-handling-11.patch for 3.14.6, or restore-vista-handling-12.patch for 3.14.7 or higher to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/55868f1a335cd3853938082a5b25cfba66563135, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/938e36f824c5f834d6b77d47942ad81edd5491d0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9ae49e3f3bdf585473f03522a1b7dd7c9e4baa6a, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/be1c808fcad201adc4d5d6cca52ddb24aeb5e367, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/1d95451be1f3080904c00cc4c4a6cc519efdf321, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/d027787c8d89f59a9f0b1d7cc6972f5e16ffc740, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/014223649c33b2febbccfa221c2ab7f18a8c0847, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/e20ca6d1b006674be23d16083f273e8a7b8f77b6, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/5c245ffce71b5a23e0022bb5d1eaf645fe96ddbb. This also modifies python/cpython#111201 to avoid displaying a warning prior to Windows 10 TH2.
• Apply build-full-installer-8.patch to include debug symbols, debug binaries, the Universal CRT, and the free-threaded build in the installer. Also include the JIT compiler, which is present in official releases.
• Apply fix-launcher-2.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python launcher, to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx(), and to work around bugs in GetPrivateProfileStringW() and RegGetValueW().
• Apply fix-tcltk-1.patch for 3.14.7 or higher to use a patched version of the Tcl/Tk dependency that supports Windows Vista. (See python/cpython#124111, https://core.tcl-lang.org/tips/doc/trunk/tip/592.md, and https://core.tcl-lang.org/tips/doc/main/tip/610.md.)
• Run buildrelease.bat.

Python 3.15

• Create a Python 3.14 venv and set PYTHON to the location of the Python executable.
• Apply add-dll-8.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python executable.
• Apply restore-vista-handling-13.patch to revert or modify changes to the Python source code that are not compatible with Windows Vista. This modifies https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/37a06cbe5c17c2aa6ad938339fd42531a8a0bea0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/aa929273caca2f4e24e3aa9e790272fd4458ad35, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/55868f1a335cd3853938082a5b25cfba66563135, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/45faf151c693b6f13f78926761caea6df7242024, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/938e36f824c5f834d6b77d47942ad81edd5491d0, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/9ae49e3f3bdf585473f03522a1b7dd7c9e4baa6a, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/be1c808fcad201adc4d5d6cca52ddb24aeb5e367, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/1d95451be1f3080904c00cc4c4a6cc519efdf321, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/d027787c8d89f59a9f0b1d7cc6972f5e16ffc740, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/014223649c33b2febbccfa221c2ab7f18a8c0847, https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/e20ca6d1b006674be23d16083f273e8a7b8f77b6, and https://github.com/python/cpython/commit/5c245ffce71b5a23e0022bb5d1eaf645fe96ddbb. This also modifies python/cpython#111201 to avoid displaying a warning prior to Windows 10 TH2.
• Apply build-full-installer-9.patch to include debug symbols, debug binaries, the Universal CRT, and the free-threaded build in the installer. Also include the JIT compiler and the x64 tail-calling interpreter, which are present in official releases.
• Apply fix-launcher-2.patch to ensure that api-ms-win-core-path-l1-1-0.dll is installed next to the Python launcher, to work around the lack of support for SORT_DIGITSASNUMBERS with CompareStringEx(), and to work around bugs in GetPrivateProfileStringW() and RegGetValueW().
• Apply fix-tcltk-2.patch to use a patched version of the Tcl/Tk dependency that supports Windows Vista. (See python/cpython#124111, https://core.tcl-lang.org/tips/doc/trunk/tip/592.md, and https://core.tcl-lang.org/tips/doc/main/tip/610.md.)
• Run buildrelease.bat.