This patch allows the dbm module to be built using the compatibility mode of gdbm. It will not be needed any more with Python 2.7.4. --- setup.py 2013-04-06 00:53:37.000000000 +0200 +++ setup.py.new 2013-04-06 19:55:05.000000000 +0200 @@ -1158,10 +1158,14 @@ for cand in dbm_order: if cand == "ndbm": if find_file("ndbm.h", inc_dirs, []) is not None: - # Some systems have -lndbm, others don't + # Some systems have -lndbm, some have -lgdbm_compat, + # others have no particular linker flags. if self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, 'ndbm'): ndbm_libs = ['ndbm'] + elif self.compiler.find_library_file(lib_dirs, + 'gdbm_compat'): + ndbm_libs = ['gdbm_compat'] else: ndbm_libs = [] print "building dbm using ndbm"