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+# Building Ice for Python on Linux and macOS
+
+This page describes how to build and install Ice for Python from source code on
+Linux and macOS. If you prefer, you can also download [binary distributions][1]
+for the supported platforms.
+
+## Python Build Requirements
+
+### Operating Systems and Compilers
+
+Ice for Python is expected to build and run properly on macOS and any recent
+Linux distribution for x86 and x86_64, and was extensively tested using the
+operating systems and compiler versions listed for our [supported platforms][2].
+
+### Python Versions
+
+Ice for Python supports Python versions 2.6, 2.7, and 3.5. Note however that
+your Python installation must have been built with a C++ compiler that is
+compatible with the one used to build Ice for C++.
+
+### Ice Development Kit
+
+You will need the Ice development kit for C++, which you can install as a binary
+distribution or compile from source yourself.
+
+## Building the Python Extension
+
+Change to the Ice for Python source subdirectory:
+
+    $ cd python
+
+If you have not built Ice for C++ in the `cpp` subdirectory, set `ICE_HOME` to
+the directory of your Ice for C++ installation. For example:
+
+    $ export ICE_HOME=/opt/Ice
+
+Edit `config/Make.rules`, modify the installation prefix (if necessary), and
+review the comments describing the `PYTHON_VERSION` variable.
+
+Execute `python -V` to verify that the correct Python interpreter is in your
+executable search path.
+
+Run `make` to build the extension.
+
+Upon successful completion, run `make install`. You may need additional user
+privileges to install in the directory specified by `config/Make.rules`.
+
+## Configuring your Environment for Python
+
+Modify your `PYTHONPATH` environment variable to include the Ice extension
+for Python. For example, assuming you installed the extension in the directory
+`/opt/Ice`, you would modify your environment as shown below:
+
+    $ export PYTHONPATH=/opt/Ice/python:$PYTHONPATH
+
+## Running the Python Tests
+
+After a successful build, you can run the tests as follows:
+
+    $ python allTests.py
+
+If everything worked out, you should see lots of `ok` messages. In case of a
+failure, the tests abort with `failed`.
+
+[1]: https://zeroc.com/download.html
+[2]: https://doc.zeroc.com/display/Ice36/Supported+Platforms+for+Ice+3.6.3