Written by Ross for GHOP.

merge -r59315:59316 from py3k: Fix issue #1553: An errornous __length_hint__ can make list() raise a SystemError

These optimizations create smaller and a bit faster code on my machine. I've also disabled an optimization that may be dangerous. Intrinsic functions conflict with errno.

Added warning that make install may overwrite or masquerade the default python binary. Use make altinstall instead.
A native English speaker may want to rephrase the paragraph. ;)

by Shriphani Palakodety.

Readded a missing line.

os.access now returns True on Windows for any existing directory.

Written for GHOP by Josip Dzolonga.

Change GeneratorExit's base class from Exception to BaseException
(This time I'm applying the patch to the correct sandbox.)

on 32-bit systems on 64-bit systems, and vice versa. As a consequence
of the change, Random pickles created by Python 2.6 cannot be loaded
in Python 2.5.

coding. Thanks Mark Dickinson.

The new msvc9compiler module supports VS 2005 and VS 2008. I've also fixed build_ext to support PCbuild8 and PCbuild9 and backported my fix for xxmodule.c from py3k. The old code msvccompiler is still in place in case somebody likes to build an extension with VS 2003 or earlier.
I've also updated the cygwin compiler module for VS 2005 and VS 2008. It works with VS 2005 but I'm unable to test it with VS 2008. We have to wait for a new version of cygwin.

Written by Charlie Shepherd for GHOP. Also fixes #1245.

Written by Jeff Wheeler for GHOP.

Written for GHOP by Rafal Rawicki.