A directory with a working example of how to build an extension.

PC/example_nt/example.c

+#include "Python.h"
+
+static PyObject *
+ex_foo(self, args)
+	PyObject *self, *args;
+{
+	printf("Hello, world\n");
+	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
+	return Py_None;
+}
+
+static PyMethodDef example_methods[] = {
+	{"foo", ex_foo, 1, "foo() doc string"},
+	{NULL, NULL}
+};
+
+void
+initexample()
+{
+	Py_InitModule("example", example_methods);
+}

PC/example_nt/example.def

+EXPORTS
+	initexample

PC/example_nt/example.mak

+# Microsoft Developer Studio Generated NMAKE File, Format Version 4.00
+# ** DO NOT EDIT **
+
+# TARGTYPE "Win32 (x86) Dynamic-Link Library" 0x0102
+
+!IF "$(CFG)" == ""
+CFG=example - Win32 Debug
+!MESSAGE No configuration specified.  Defaulting to example - Win32 Debug.
+!ENDIF 
+
+!IF "$(CFG)" != "example - Win32 Release" && "$(CFG)" !=\
+ "example - Win32 Debug"
+!MESSAGE Invalid configuration "$(CFG)" specified.
+!MESSAGE You can specify a configuration when running NMAKE on this makefile
+!MESSAGE by defining the macro CFG on the command line.  For example:
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE NMAKE /f "example.mak" CFG="example - Win32 Debug"
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE Possible choices for configuration are:
+!MESSAGE 
+!MESSAGE "example - Win32 Release" (based on\
+ "Win32 (x86) Dynamic-Link Library")
+!MESSAGE "example - Win32 Debug" (based on "Win32 (x86) Dynamic-Link Library")
+!MESSAGE 
+!ERROR An invalid configuration is specified.
+!ENDIF 
+
+!IF "$(OS)" == "Windows_NT"
+NULL=
+!ELSE 
+NULL=nul
+!ENDIF 
+################################################################################
+# Begin Project
+# PROP Target_Last_Scanned "example - Win32 Debug"
+CPP=cl.exe
+RSC=rc.exe
+MTL=mktyplib.exe
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Release"
+
+# PROP BASE Use_MFC 0
+# PROP BASE Use_Debug_Libraries 0
+# PROP BASE Output_Dir "Release"
+# PROP BASE Intermediate_Dir "Release"
+# PROP BASE Target_Dir ""
+# PROP Use_MFC 0
+# PROP Use_Debug_Libraries 0
+# PROP Output_Dir "Release"
+# PROP Intermediate_Dir "Release"
+# PROP Target_Dir ""
+OUTDIR=.\Release
+INTDIR=.\Release
+
+ALL : "$(OUTDIR)\example.dll"
+
+CLEAN : 
+	-@erase ".\Release\example.dll"
+	-@erase ".\Release\example.obj"
+	-@erase ".\Release\example.lib"
+	-@erase ".\Release\example.exp"
+
+"$(OUTDIR)" :
+    if not exist "$(OUTDIR)/$(NULL)" mkdir "$(OUTDIR)"
+
+# ADD BASE CPP /nologo /MT /W3 /GX /O2 /D "WIN32" /D "NDEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /YX /c
+# ADD CPP /nologo /MT /W3 /GX /O2 /I "../Include" /I "../PC" /D "WIN32" /D "NDEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /YX /c
+CPP_PROJ=/nologo /MT /W3 /GX /O2 /I "../Include" /I "../PC" /D "WIN32" /D\
+ "NDEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /Fp"$(INTDIR)/example.pch" /YX /Fo"$(INTDIR)/" /c 
+CPP_OBJS=.\Release/
+CPP_SBRS=
+# ADD BASE MTL /nologo /D "NDEBUG" /win32
+# ADD MTL /nologo /D "NDEBUG" /win32
+MTL_PROJ=/nologo /D "NDEBUG" /win32 
+# ADD BASE RSC /l 0x409 /d "NDEBUG"
+# ADD RSC /l 0x409 /d "NDEBUG"
+BSC32=bscmake.exe
+# ADD BASE BSC32 /nologo
+# ADD BSC32 /nologo
+BSC32_FLAGS=/nologo /o"$(OUTDIR)/example.bsc" 
+BSC32_SBRS=
+LINK32=link.exe
+# ADD BASE LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /machine:I386
+# ADD LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /machine:I386
+LINK32_FLAGS=kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib\
+ advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib\
+ odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /incremental:no\
+ /pdb:"$(OUTDIR)/example.pdb" /machine:I386 /def:".\example.def"\
+ /out:"$(OUTDIR)/example.dll" /implib:"$(OUTDIR)/example.lib" 
+DEF_FILE= \
+	".\example.def"
+LINK32_OBJS= \
+	"$(INTDIR)/example.obj" \
+	"..\vc40\python14.lib"
+
+"$(OUTDIR)\example.dll" : "$(OUTDIR)" $(DEF_FILE) $(LINK32_OBJS)
+    $(LINK32) @<<
+  $(LINK32_FLAGS) $(LINK32_OBJS)
+<<
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+# PROP BASE Use_MFC 0
+# PROP BASE Use_Debug_Libraries 1
+# PROP BASE Output_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP BASE Intermediate_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP BASE Target_Dir ""
+# PROP Use_MFC 0
+# PROP Use_Debug_Libraries 1
+# PROP Output_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP Intermediate_Dir "Debug"
+# PROP Target_Dir ""
+OUTDIR=.\Debug
+INTDIR=.\Debug
+
+ALL : "$(OUTDIR)\example.dll"
+
+CLEAN : 
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.dll"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.obj"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.ilk"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.lib"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.exp"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\example.pdb"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\vc40.pdb"
+	-@erase ".\Debug\vc40.idb"
+
+"$(OUTDIR)" :
+    if not exist "$(OUTDIR)/$(NULL)" mkdir "$(OUTDIR)"
+
+# ADD BASE CPP /nologo /MTd /W3 /Gm /GX /Zi /Od /D "WIN32" /D "_DEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /YX /c
+# ADD CPP /nologo /MTd /W3 /Gm /GX /Zi /Od /I "../Include" /I "../PC" /D "WIN32" /D "_DEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /YX /c
+CPP_PROJ=/nologo /MTd /W3 /Gm /GX /Zi /Od /I "../Include" /I "../PC" /D "WIN32"\
+ /D "_DEBUG" /D "_WINDOWS" /Fp"$(INTDIR)/example.pch" /YX /Fo"$(INTDIR)/"\
+ /Fd"$(INTDIR)/" /c 
+CPP_OBJS=.\Debug/
+CPP_SBRS=
+# ADD BASE MTL /nologo /D "_DEBUG" /win32
+# ADD MTL /nologo /D "_DEBUG" /win32
+MTL_PROJ=/nologo /D "_DEBUG" /win32 
+# ADD BASE RSC /l 0x409 /d "_DEBUG"
+# ADD RSC /l 0x409 /d "_DEBUG"
+BSC32=bscmake.exe
+# ADD BASE BSC32 /nologo
+# ADD BSC32 /nologo
+BSC32_FLAGS=/nologo /o"$(OUTDIR)/example.bsc" 
+BSC32_SBRS=
+LINK32=link.exe
+# ADD BASE LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /debug /machine:I386
+# ADD LINK32 kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /debug /machine:I386
+LINK32_FLAGS=kernel32.lib user32.lib gdi32.lib winspool.lib comdlg32.lib\
+ advapi32.lib shell32.lib ole32.lib oleaut32.lib uuid.lib odbc32.lib\
+ odbccp32.lib /nologo /subsystem:windows /dll /incremental:yes\
+ /pdb:"$(OUTDIR)/example.pdb" /debug /machine:I386 /def:".\example.def"\
+ /out:"$(OUTDIR)/example.dll" /implib:"$(OUTDIR)/example.lib" 
+DEF_FILE= \
+	".\example.def"
+LINK32_OBJS= \
+	"$(INTDIR)/example.obj" \
+	"..\vc40\python14.lib"
+
+"$(OUTDIR)\example.dll" : "$(OUTDIR)" $(DEF_FILE) $(LINK32_OBJS)
+    $(LINK32) @<<
+  $(LINK32_FLAGS) $(LINK32_OBJS)
+<<
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+.c{$(CPP_OBJS)}.obj:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+.cpp{$(CPP_OBJS)}.obj:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+.cxx{$(CPP_OBJS)}.obj:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+.c{$(CPP_SBRS)}.sbr:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+.cpp{$(CPP_SBRS)}.sbr:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+.cxx{$(CPP_SBRS)}.sbr:
+   $(CPP) $(CPP_PROJ) $<  
+
+################################################################################
+# Begin Target
+
+# Name "example - Win32 Release"
+# Name "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Release"
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+################################################################################
+# Begin Source File
+
+SOURCE=.\example.c
+DEP_CPP_EXAMP=\
+	".\../Include\Python.h"\
+	"..\Include\allobjects.h"\
+	".\../PC\config.h"\
+	"..\Include\myproto.h"\
+	"..\Include\object.h"\
+	"..\Include\objimpl.h"\
+	"..\Include\pydebug.h"\
+	"..\Include\accessobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\intobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\longobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\floatobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\complexobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\rangeobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\stringobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\tupleobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\listobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\mappingobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\methodobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\moduleobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\funcobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\classobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\fileobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\cobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\traceback.h"\
+	"..\Include\sliceobject.h"\
+	"..\Include\pyerrors.h"\
+	"..\Include\mymalloc.h"\
+	"..\Include\modsupport.h"\
+	"..\Include\ceval.h"\
+	"..\Include\pythonrun.h"\
+	"..\Include\sysmodule.h"\
+	"..\Include\intrcheck.h"\
+	"..\Include\import.h"\
+	"..\Include\bltinmodule.h"\
+	"..\Include\abstract.h"\
+	"..\Include\rename2.h"\
+	"..\Include\thread.h"\
+	
+
+"$(INTDIR)\example.obj" : $(SOURCE) $(DEP_CPP_EXAMP) "$(INTDIR)"
+
+
+# End Source File
+################################################################################
+# Begin Source File
+
+SOURCE=.\example.def
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Release"
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+# End Source File
+################################################################################
+# Begin Source File
+
+SOURCE=..\vc40\python14.lib
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Release"
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+# End Source File
+################################################################################
+# Begin Source File
+
+SOURCE=.\readme.txt
+
+!IF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Release"
+
+!ELSEIF  "$(CFG)" == "example - Win32 Debug"
+
+!ENDIF 
+
+# End Source File
+# End Target
+# End Project
+################################################################################

PC/example_nt/readme.txt

+Example Python extension for Windows NT
+=======================================
+
+This directory contains everything you need to build a Python
+extension module using Microsoft VC++ 4.x ("Developer Studio"), except
+for the Python distribution.  It has only been tested with version
+4.0, but should work with higher versions.
+
+The "example" subdirectory should be an immediate subdirectory of the
+Python source directory -- a direct sibling of Include and PC, in
+particular, which are referenced as "..\Include" and "..\PC".
+In other words, it should *not* be used "as is".  Copy or move it up
+one level or you will regret it!  (This is done to keep all the PC
+specific files inside the PC subdirectory of the distribution, where
+they belong.)
+
+It is also assumed that the build results of Python are in the
+directory ..\vc40.  In particular, the python14.lib file is referred
+to as "..\vc40\python14.lib".
+
+In order to use the example project from Developer Studio, use the
+"File->Open Workspace..." dialog (*not* the "File->Open..." dialog!).
+Change the pattern to "*.mak" and select the file "example.mak".  Now
+choose "File->Save All" and the othe project files will be created.
+
+In order to check that everything is set up right, try building:
+choose "Build->Build example.dll".  This creates all intermediate and
+result files in a subdirectory which is called either Debug or Release
+depending on which configuration you have chosen (as distributed,
+Debug is selected as the default configuration).
+
+Once the build has succeeded, test the resulting DLL.  In a DOS
+command window, chdir to that directory.  You should now be able to
+repeat the following session "(C>" is the DOS prompt, ">>>" is the
+Python prompt):
+
+	C> ..\..\vc40\python.exe
+	>>> import example
+	>>> example.foo()
+	Hello, world
+	>>>
+
+
+Creating the project
+--------------------
+
+There are two ways to use this example to create a project for your
+own module.  First, choose a name ("spam" is always a winner :-) and
+create a directory for it.  Copy your C sources into it.  Note that
+the module source file name does not necessarily have to match the
+module name, but the "init" function name should match the module name
+-- i.e. you can only import a module "spam" if its init function is
+called "initspam()", and it should call Py_InitModule with the string
+"spam" as its first argument.  By convention, it lives in a file
+called "spam.c" or "spammodule.c".  The output file should be called
+"spam.dll" or "spam.pyd" (the latter is supported to avoid confusion
+with a system library "spam.dll" to which your module could be a
+Python interface).
+
+Now your options are:
+
+1) Clone example.mak.  Start by copying example\example.mak to
+spam\spam.mak.  Do a global edit on spam.mak, replacing all
+occurrences of the string "example" by "spam", and all occurrences of
+"DEP_CPP_EXAMP" by something like "DEP_CPP_SPAM".  You can now use
+this makefile to create a project file by opening it as a workspace
+(you have to change the pattern to *.mak first).
+
+2) Create a brand new project; instructions are below.
+
+In both cases, copy example\example.def to spam\spam.def, and edit
+spam\spam.def so its second line contains the string "initspam".
+If you created a new project yourself, add the file spam.def to the
+project now.
+
+You are now all set to build your extension, unless it requires other
+external libraries, include files, etc.  See Python's Extending and
+Embedding manual for instructions on how to write an extension.
+
+
+Creating a brand new project
+----------------------------
+
+If you don't feel comfortable with editing Makefiles, you can create a
+brand new project from scratch easily.
+
+Use the "File->New..." dialog to create a new Project Workspace.
+Select Dynamic-Link Library, enter the name ("spam"), and make sure
+the "Location" is set to the spam directory you have created (which
+should be a direct subdirectory of the Python build tree).  Select
+Win32 as the platform (in my version, this is the only choice).  Click
+"Create".
+
+Now open the "Build->Settings..." dialog.  (Impressive, isn't it?  :-)
+You only need to change a few settings.  Make sure you have both the
+Debug and the Release configuration selected when you make these
+changes.  Select the "C/C++" tab.  Choose the "Preprocessor" category
+in the popup menu at the top.  Type the following text in the entry
+box labeled "Addditional include directories:"
+
+	..\Include,..\PC
+
+You should now first create the file spam.def as instructed in the
+previous section.
+
+Now chose the "Insert->Files into Project..." dialog.  Set the pattern
+to *.* and select both spam.c and spam.def and click OK.  (Inserting
+them one by one is fine too.)  Using the same dialog, choose the file
+..\vc40\python14.lib and insert it into the project.