How to pass --debug to build_ext when invoking setup.py install?

Question

When I execute a command python setup.py install or python setup.py develop it would execute build_ext command as one of the steps. How can I pass --debug option to it as if it was invoked as python setup.py build_ext --debug?

UPDATE Here is a setup.py very similar to mine: https://github.com/pybind/cmake_example/blob/11a644072b12ad78352b6e6649db9dfe7f406676/setup.py#L43

I'd like to invoke python setup.py install but turn debug property in build_ext class instance to 1.

Answer 1

A. If I am not mistaken, one could achieve that by adding the following to a setup.cfg file alongside the setup.py file:

[build_ext]
debug = 1

B.1. For more flexibility, I believe it should be possible to be explicit on the command line:

$ path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py build_ext --debug install

B.2. Also if I understood right it should be possible to define so-called aliases

# setup.cfg
[aliases]
release_install = build_ext install
debug_install = build_ext --debug install

$ path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py release_install
$ path/to/pythonX.Y setup.py debug_install

References

• https://docs.python.org/3/distutils/configfile.html
• https://setuptools.readthedocs.io/en/latest/setuptools.html#alias-define-shortcuts-for-commonly-used-commands