Enabling SSL in Python

After installing Python 2.5 for use with Google's AppEngine I discovered that SSL had not been compiled in. I use Ubuntu 10.10 as the test server. First install the SSL headers:-

$ sudo apt-get install libssl-dev

Then rebuild Python to include SSL:-

$ cd /usr/local/src/Python-2.5.5/
$ sudo rm Modules/Setup
$ sudo joe Modules/Setup.dist

Uncomment lines 206-209 and set line 206 to:-

SSL=/usr

Save and exit, then:-

$ sudo ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/python2.5
$ sudo make clean
$ sudo make
$ sudo make install

Finally, remove the virtualenv already created and create a new one so that the new python executable and libraries are copied in.