Download Python

Create a directory such as rh9_gcc32 (or cd into the directory corresponding to OS and gcc version for which you want to install python, such as rhel4_gcc34 )

Make a directory, whose name is the version of the python (e.g., mkdir 2.5.1)
Now cd into that directory and create another named, gcc<version>,
- Where <version> is the version of the gcc compiler (e.g., mkdir gcc33)
Extract files from download (_e.g., tar -zxvf Python-2.5.1.tgz_)

Run
- ./configure --prefix=<Installation Location>
  - Where <Installation Location> is the full path to *<OS_gccVersion>/<python version>/gcc<compiler version>*

- - E.g., ./configure --prefix=/afs/slac/g/glast/ground/GLAST_EXT/rh9_gcc32/2.5.1/gcc33*

Do a Standard Build

Do Custom Build Python against an arbitrary version of tcl/tk

After running 'configure,' in the same directory, there will be a file created in the Modules directory, named "Setup:" Modules/Setup.

Edit the file, "Modules/Setup"
- There will be 4 relevant lines in this file that you have to edit. They look like this:
- # *** Always uncomment this (leave the leading underscore in!)*:
  __tkinter _tkinter.c tkappinit.c -DWITH_APPINIT {color}
  # ***{*}Uncomment and edit to reflect where your Tcl/Tk libraries are{*}:
         -L/usr/lib {}
  # *** {*}Uncomment and edit to reflect where your Tcl/Tk headers are{*}:
         -I/usr/include {}
  # *** Uncomment and edit to reflect your Tcl/Tk versions:
         -ltk8.4 -ltcl8.4 {}
IMPORTANT{*}- setup the LD_RUN_PATH environment variable to point to the location of the tcl/tk libraries (the "-L" value in Modules/Setup)
- *setenv LD_RUN_PATH <Library Location>*
  - e.g., setenv LD_RUN_PATH/usr/lib
Run make
- make
** Unset the LD_RUN_PATH environment varible{*}
- unsetenv LD_RUN_PATH
Run
- make install