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I tried to build a C extension in Python 3.1.2.
 \Python31\python.exe setup.py build --compiler=mingw32
I got a stack-trace:
...
 File "C:\Python31\lib\distutils\cygwinccompiler.py", line 280, in __init__
 CygwinCCompiler.__init__ (self, verbose, dry_run, force)
 File "C:\Python31\lib\distutils\cygwinccompiler.py", line 124, in __init__
 if self.ld_version >= "2.10.90":
TypeError: unorderable types: NoneType() >= str()
This is Windows 2000 SP4, with MinGW 5.1.6.

Can you run the following command:
 ld -v
and paste the result?

\MinGW\bin\ld.exe -v
GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.20

I just realised--I didn't have c:\mingw\bin in my path. Once I added that to the path, then the build worked fine.
So I guess the issue is only that the error message is somewhat cryptic.

Ok thanks for you test.
If it can't get the ld version I'll display this message:
"could not detect the ld version. Make sure MinGW is installed and its bin directory is in the path"
I'll do this for 2.7/3.2

To me a better option would be an ability to specify a path to compiler from command line.
--compiler-path=./mingw/bin/gcc.exe

Anatoly: Please open a feature request for distutils2. Thanks in advance.
Craig: This seems to have fallen out of the radar, sorry. Someone may propose a patch during the upcoming bug week-end, or we’ll do it.

@Éric can you put this on your todo list if it's not already there?

Distutils is now deprecated (see PEP 632) and all tagged issues are being closed. From now until removal, only release blocking issues will be considered for distutils.
If this issue does not relate to distutils, please remove the component and reopen it. If you believe it still requires a fix, most likely the issue should be re-reported at https://github.com/pypa/setuptools