Introduce python as a system dependency which is needed by node-gyp t…

…o compile native modules

.github/workflows/builds.yml

@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version-file: '.nvmrc'
           cache: 'pnpm'
+      - name: Use python specified in the '.python-version' file
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version-file: '.python-version'
+          cache: 'pip'
       - name: Install node dependencies
         if: ${{ github.event_name == 'schedule' || (github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' && contains(github.event.inputs.message, '[nightly branch]')) }}
         uses: nick-fields/retry@v3
@@ -177,6 +182,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version-file: '.nvmrc'
           cache: 'pnpm'
+      - name: Use python specified in the '.python-version' file
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version-file: '.python-version'
+          cache: 'pip'
       - name: Install node dependencies
         uses: nick-fields/retry@v3
         with:
@@ -256,6 +266,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version-file: '.nvmrc'
           cache: 'pnpm'
+      - name: Use python specified in the '.python-version' file
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version-file: '.python-version'
+          cache: 'pip'
       - name: Install node dependencies
         uses: nick-fields/retry@v3
         with:
@@ -356,6 +371,11 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version-file: '.nvmrc'
           cache: 'pnpm'
+      - name: Use python specified in the '.python-version' file
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version-file: '.python-version'
+          cache: 'pip'
       #TODO - Remove this once https://github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/issues/6933#issuecomment-1213438889 is resolved
       - name: Tweak pnpm.cjs
         run: |

.python-version

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.11.8

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   - [How can I contribute?](#how-can-i-contribute)
   - [Setting up your development machine](#setting-up-your-development-machine)
     - [Install system-level dependencies](#install-system-level-dependencies)
-      - [Node.js, pnpm](#nodejs-pnpm)
+      - [Node.js, pnpm, python](#nodejs-pnpm-python)
       - [Git](#git)
       - [On Debian/Ubuntu](#on-debianubuntu)
       - [On Fedora](#on-fedora)
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ If so, engage in the already existing discussion.
 
 _Note:_ This list can likely get outdated. If so, please refer to the specific version of the [electronuserland builder](https://hub.docker.com/r/electronuserland/builder) that we use in our [Dockerfile](./Dockerfile).
 
-#### Node.js, pnpm
+#### Node.js, pnpm, python
 
 Please make sure you are conforming to the `engines` requirements used by the developers/contributors as specified in the [`package.json`](./package.json#engines) and [`recipes/package.json`](./recipes/package.json#engine) files.
 
@@ -63,11 +63,12 @@ Currently, these are the combinations of system dependencies that work for MacOS
 $ jq --null-input '[inputs.engines] | add' < ./package.json < ./recipes/package.json
 {
   "node": "20.11.1",
-  "pnpm": "8.15.5"
+  "pnpm": "8.15.5",
+  "python": "3.11.8"
 }
 ```
 
-_Note:_ You can choose any version manager to manage multiple versions of `node` and `pnpm`. For eg, [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) or [asdf](https://github.com/asdf-vm/asdf).
+_Note:_ You can choose any version manager to manage multiple versions of `node` and `pnpm`. For eg, [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) or [mise](https://github.com/jdx/mise).
 
 #### Git
 

Dockerfile

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ ARG PREVAL_BUILD_INFO_PLACEHOLDERS=true
 
 # Note: 'fpm' is needed for building on ARM machines
 RUN apt-get update -y \
-  && apt-get install --no-install-recommends -y rpm ruby gem \
+  && apt-get install --no-install-recommends -y python3 rpm ruby gem \
   && gem install dotenv -v 2.8.1 --no-ri --no-rdoc --no-document \
   && gem install fpm --no-ri --no-rdoc --no-document
 

package.json

@@ -14,12 +14,14 @@
   "private": true,
   "engines": {
     "node": "20.11.1",
-    "pnpm": "8.15.5"
+    "pnpm": "8.15.5",
+    "python": "3.11.8"
   },
   "engine-strict": true,
   "volta": {
     "node": "20.11.1",
-    "pnpm": "8.15.5"
+    "pnpm": "8.15.5",
+    "python": "3.11.8"
   },
   "packageManager": "pnpm@8.15.5",
   "scripts": {
@@ -187,6 +189,7 @@
     "husky": "9.0.11",
     "is-ci": "3.0.1",
     "jest": "29.7.0",
+    "node-gyp": "10.0.1",
     "prettier": "3.2.5",
     "preval-build-info": "1.0.3",
     "rimraf": "5.0.5",