Building Python 3.0.1 with xlc on AIX 5.3, The following compiler 
errros come up:
/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 141.25: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX_SOFT_FLOAT.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 601.19: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX_SOFT_FLOAT.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 604.19: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX64.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 668.23: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_SYSV.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 902.10: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_SYSV.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 902.10: 1506-051 
(S) Case expression must be a valid integral constant.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 903.10: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_GCC_SYSV.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 903.10: 1506-051 
(S) Case expression must be a valid integral constant.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 904.10: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 904.10: 1506-051 
(S) Case expression must be a valid integral constant.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 905.10: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX_SOFT_FLOAT.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 905.10: 1506-051 
(S) Case expression must be a valid integral constant.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 1027.26: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_SYSV.
"/home11/eeshel/dev/python/Python-
3.0.1/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc/ffi.c", line 1152.27: 1506-045 
(S) Undeclared identifier FFI_LINUX_SOFT_FLOAT.

Configuration command was:
configure --prefix=/home/eeshel/bin/python/python-3.0.1 --exec-
prefix=/home/eeshel/bin/python/python-3.0.1/ibm --with-
gcc="/bb/util/version10-022009/usr/vacpp/bin/xlc_r -Wl,-G" --with-
cxx="/bb/util/version10-022009/usr/vacpp/bin/xlc_r -Wl,-G" --disable-
ipv6 --disable-shared --with-threads

Just to mention the same issue for Python-2.6.2 and gcc-4.2.0 on aix 
5.3 too.

AIX doesn't seem listed in the platforms supported by libffi.
http://sourceware.org/libffi/ suggests you send platform test results to
libffi-discuss@sourceware.org

On the other hand, perhaps the libffi version which comes with Python is
outdated.

Having a look at
<http://www-
03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/aix/linux/toolbox/alpha.html>

gcc libffi is wel available for Aix, though?

That said, I just need python for bzr and associated tools to maintain 
localy a small number of script, so imho I would be able survive 
without ffi support in python (even _ctype?).

Any idea how to remove this support at build from src time: I have a 
look at ./configure --help and even try to change some other 
compilation option like -O2 (in place of default -O3) but nothing 
seems to be helpfull.

Tx for additional advise.

Well a few spare time let me investigate this way: using gc[cj] libffi.

I so first install libffi-4.2.0-3 as well as libffi-devel-4.2.0-3 (not
sure this last one is required, though) then configure python (2.6) with
--with-system-ffi but it doesn't seems to be enough to locate libffi so
I added symbolic links:
/usr/lib/libffi.a -> ../../opt/freeware/lib/libffi.a

/usr/include/ffi.h -> \
../../opt/freeware/lib/gcc/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/4.2.0/include/ffi.h
/usr/include/ffitarget.h -> \
../../opt/freeware/lib/gcc/powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0/4.2.0/include/ffitarget.h

After that I reach to compile python2.6.2 without error and at a first
glance it seems to work fine (just rebuild bzr 1.17 and launch some
cmdl, ;<)).

Hope this could help for python3 and xlC,
    r.

Python is using the wrong ffi code, it should be using ffi_darwin.c

I've just downloaded libffi-3.0.9 (the latest) and it builds with no problems on my AIX 5.3 system. 

Is there any chance of the version of libffi in Python being updated?

According to ffi site (http://sourceware.org/libffi/, the latest version is libffi-3.0.10, dated few days ago (which BTW I've been unable to compile on AIX, while 3.0.9 is OK)

So what are those 4.2.0-3 versions coming from?

Hello Gilles,

The libffi-4.2.0-3 I used, was coming from the previously mentioned repository:
<http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/aix/linux/toolbox/alpha.html>.

That said, if I click on <Source> link, it points me to <ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/gcc>
So, as far as I understand, it's the version of libffi coming with gcc project and so of the same release as the gcc 
available at this place i.e. 4.2.0-3.

What's the difference with sourceware.org/libffi?
It's very not clear to me: reading this announce: <http://sourceware.org/ml/libffi-discuss/2009/msg00146.html>, it seems 
that gcc one is the merge of the upstream?

Hth,
	r.

PS: As I was fired from my previous position, I don't have any more access to my testing system and so couldn't more 
helpful, sorry :<(

On 09/21/2011 09:07 AM, Gilles PION wrote:
>
> Gilles PION<gpion@lfdj.com>  added the comment:
>
> According to ffi site (http://sourceware.org/libffi/, the latest version is libffi-3.0.10, dated few days ago (which BTW I've been unable to compile on AIX, while 3.0.9 is OK)
>
> So what are those 4.2.0-3 versions coming from?
>
> ----------
> nosy: +gpion
>
> _______________________________________
> Python tracker<report@bugs.python.org>
> <http://bugs.python.org/issue6006>
> _______________________________________
>

Closing as obsolete.

Although this is closed - it is not (yet) resolved, really.

ctypes does not compile on AIX 5.3, or AIX 6.1.

Applying the patch posted (https://bugs.python.org/file17098/pyffi.patch) does get rid of most of the problems. However, to completely "fix" it I also copied as follows:

cp  -rp ../sourceforge/libffi/libffi-3.2.1/src/powerpc ./Python-2.7.8/Modules/_ctypes/libffi/src/powerpc
make clean
make

There are still other issues - BUT - with this ctypes completes as a module of python.