Replace gen_context.c with a Python implementation #919

1. 
   sipa commented at 1:18 am on April 13, 2021: contributor

   This removes the need for a separate native toolchain to build gen_context, and the issues around compilation options affecting one but not the other.

   Alternative to #918.

2. sipa force-pushed on Apr 13, 2021
3. Replace gen_context.c with gen_context.py 4c3f35b375
4. Test ecmult_gen with all 2^i+2^j 7c3d27a910
5. sipa force-pushed on Apr 13, 2021
6. 
   sipa commented at 8:48 pm on April 13, 2021: contributor

   Also submitted the test improvements separately as #920.
7. real-or-random cross-referenced this on Apr 19, 2021 from issue mingw builds by real-or-random
8. 
   apoelstra commented at 5:53 pm on June 10, 2021: contributor

   concept ACK. I think this would work well for rust-bitcoin.
9. 
   fanquake commented at 1:44 am on June 29, 2021: member

   Concept ACK - ran into issues running gen_context when cross-compiling with mingw-w64 while having Wine installed.
10. 
    real-or-random commented at 8:02 am on June 29, 2021: contributor

    @fanquake

    As an alternative, @roconnor-blockstream is working on extending gen_context in #956. The plan (in that PR or in a follow up PR) is to simply ship with precomputed headers then, which would removes the need for running gen_context (or python) entirely for all supported builds.

11. 
    real-or-random commented at 1:45 pm on November 19, 2021: contributor

    Closing in favor of #988 .
12. real-or-random closed this on Nov 19, 2021

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13. real-or-random cross-referenced this on Apr 19, 2023 from issue autotools: `make precomp` does not work for out-of-source builds by hebasto
14. real-or-random cross-referenced this on Apr 19, 2023 from issue build: Move generation of prebuilt files out of build system by real-or-random

Contributors
sipa apoelstra fanquake real-or-random