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+# Building Ice for Python on Linux and OS X
+
+This page describes how to build and install Ice for Python from source code on Linux and OS X. If you prefer, you can also download [binary distributions](https://zeroc.com/download.html) for the supported platforms.
+
+## Python Build Requirements
+
+### Operating Systems and Compilers
+
+Ice for Python is expected to build and run properly on OS X 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](https://zeroc.com/platforms_3_6_0.html).
+
+### Python Versions
+
+Ice for Python supports Python versions 2.6, 2.7, 3.3 or 3.4. 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```.