Running gem5 with standalone Python

[derchr]

Hi,
I was wondering, if it's possible to run gem5 with a standalone Python interpreter instead of the embedded one. This would allow for more flexible setups with third-party simulation models, as the (virtual) environment can be easily controlled.

I.e., importing the m5 Python package from a shared/dynamic library.

I know that it's possible to compile gem5 as a shared library (scons --with-cxx-config --without-python build/ARM/libgem5_opt.so), however this requires simulations to use the config.ini file instead of the flexible Python config approach.

Thanks!

[Sir-NoChill]

I've been looking into this, it would also help make teaching with gem5 easier. Unfortunately a lot of the current gem5 stdlib is quite tightly coupled with the c++ source code, there used to be a way to specify a separate python root for the project via M5_OVERRIDE_PY_SOURCE=true but I don't believe that works any longer. Someone more familiar with that option should correct me if I'm wrong.

One way I was contemplating was to keep a minimal set of bindings to the C++ and move the majority of the stdlib elements into a top level python directory that imports the gem5 stdlib, but that would require some code generation tweaks. Now that you have brought this back to my brain I will take a closer look over the next little while.