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gh-136687: Add ./configure --with-curses to select the curses backend #153992

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serhiy-storchaka merged 3 commits into from
Jul 19, 2026
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gh-136687: Add ./configure --with-curses to select the curses backend #153992

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c74914f
gh-136687: Add ./configure --with-curses to select the curses backend
serhiy-storchaka Jul 18, 2026
e0dabef
gh-136687: Fix the wide-character probe for native curses
serhiy-storchaka Jul 18, 2026
242508f
gh-136687: Match the panel and headers to the selected curses backend
serhiy-storchaka Jul 19, 2026
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26 changes: 26 additions & 0 deletions Doc/using/configure.rst
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -1087,6 +1087,32 @@ Libraries options

.. versionadded:: 3.10

.. option:: --with-curses=ncursesw|ncurses|curses

Designate a backend library for the :mod:`curses` and :mod:`curses.panel`
modules.

* ``ncursesw``: Use the wide-character ``libncursesw`` (and ``libpanelw``),
found via ``pkg-config``.
* ``ncurses``: Use ``libncurses`` (and ``libpanel``), found via
``pkg-config``.
* ``curses``: Use the system's native ``libcurses`` (and ``libpanel``), such
as on NetBSD or Solaris. It is built with wide-character support when the
library provides it.

Without this option (or with ``--with-curses=auto``, the default), Python
tries ``ncursesw`` and then ``ncurses``; the native ``curses`` is used only
when requested explicitly.

.. versionadded:: next

.. option:: --without-curses

Don't build the :mod:`curses` and :mod:`curses.panel` modules, even when a
curses library is present (built by default when one is found).

.. versionadded:: next

.. option:: --with-libm=STRING

Override ``libm`` math library to *STRING* (default is system-dependent).
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9 changes: 9 additions & 0 deletions Doc/whatsnew/3.16.rst
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Expand Up @@ -768,6 +768,15 @@ Build changes

(Contributed by Stefano Rivera in :gh:`131372`.)

* Add the :option:`--with-curses` :program:`configure` option to select the
curses backend for the :mod:`curses` and :mod:`curses.panel` modules.
In addition to ``ncursesw`` and ``ncurses``, it can now build against the
system's native ``curses`` library (for example on NetBSD or Solaris), with
wide-character support when the library provides it. :option:`--without-curses`
excludes the modules from the build.

(Contributed by Serhiy Storchaka in :gh:`136687`.)


C API changes
=============
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4 changes: 4 additions & 0 deletions Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-07-18-14-30-12.gh-issue-136687.teaPCG.rst
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@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
Add the :option:`--with-curses` option to :program:`configure` to select the
curses backend (``ncursesw``, ``ncurses`` or the system's native ``curses``) or,
as :option:`--without-curses`, to exclude the :mod:`curses` and
:mod:`curses.panel` modules from the build.
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