Welcome to your comprehensive guide on utilizing py-solc, a powerful Python wrapper for the Solidity compiler! Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting with blockchain development, this library simplifies the process of compiling Solidity code through Python scripts.

Dependencies: What You Need First

Before diving into the installation and usage of py-solc, you must have the solc executable present on your system. For this library, only versions 0.4.2 are supported and tested. However, it may also work with other versions. For installation guidelines, refer to the solc installation instructions.

Quickstart: Installation Made Easy

Installing py-solc is as easy as pie! Just run the following command:

pip install py-solc

Development: Getting Involved!

If you’re keen on contributing or making developments yourself, follow these steps:

• Clone the repository.
• Run the command to install the library in editable mode:

pip install -e . -r requirements-dev.txt

Testing: How to Run Tests

You can verify if everything is functioning properly by running the test suite:

pytest tests

Alternatively, install tox to run the full test suite.

Releasing a New Version

Ready to release a new version? Make sure you have Pandoc installed to transform your files correctly:

• For Debian-like systems, use:

  apt install pandoc

• Or on macOS, use:

  brew install pandoc

To release a new version, follow this command sequence:

bumpversion $$VERSION_PART_TO_BUMP$$
git push
git push --tags
make release

Understanding Version Bumping

The version format utilized in this repository is major.minor.patch. To bump a version, use bumpversion and specify which part to upgrade (like minor or devnum). If you’re on a beta version, the command bumpversion stage will switch to stable.

Compiling Smart Contracts with Py-solc

Now, onto the magic of compilation! Consider the process of compiling a Solidity program like preparing a recipe. The ingredients (your sources) come together in a well-defined structure (compilation methods) allowing you to cook up something edible (deploying a smart contract).

Standard JSON Compilation

To utilize the standard-json compilation feature, you can employ the following snippet:

from solc import compile_standard

compile_standard({
    "language": "Solidity",
    "sources": {
        "Foo.sol": {
            "content": "..."
        }
    }
})

Legacy Combined JSON Compilation

For the older method, where everything is combined into a single output, you can use:

from solc import compile_source, compile_files

compile_source('contract Foo { function Foo() {} }')

Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions

• If you encounter issues with missing dependencies, ensure you have installed all requirements in requirements-dev.txt.
• Make sure you have the correct version of solc. Remember, only 0.4.2 is officially supported.
• If environment variables are not being recognized, check that you have set SOLC_BINARY correctly to point to your solc binary.

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Setting the Path to Your solc Binary

To direct your Python environment to use a specific solc binary, set the SOLC_BINARY environment variable. This tells py-solc where to find the compiler executable on your machine.

Import Path Remappings

Solc also allows you to alias your paths for easier configurations:

compile_files([source_file_path], import_remappings=["zeppelin=my-zeppelin-checkout-folder"])

Final Thoughts

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Conclusion

With this guide, you’re now well-equipped to harness the power of py-solc for your Solidity programming needs. Happy coding!