issue #1115 update :Add a sentence or two about the benefits of using…

contrib/code/setup.rst

@@ -10,3 +10,134 @@ Setup and building
 
 [More setup and build instructions specifically for code contributors, building
 on the basics from the :ref:`Getting Started <getting-started>` section.]
+
+
+.. _configure-cache:
+
+Using Configure Cache (`configure -C`)
+--------------------------------------
+
+When running `./configure`, CPython performs a series of system checks, which can take time.  
+To speed up repeated builds, you can use the **configure cache**, which saves previous results:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    ./configure -C
+
+### **Benefits**
+- **Faster rebuilds**: Avoids redundant system checks, making subsequent runs quicker.  
+- **Improves development workflow**: Speeds up the edit-configure-build-test cycle, especially for frequent changes.  
+- **Reduces CPU and disk usage**: Skips unnecessary recomputation of configuration results.  
+
+### **Clearing the Cache**
+If you modify system settings, upgrade dependencies, or suspect cache-related issues,  
+clear the cache before reconfiguring to avoid outdated settings:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    rm -f config.cache
+
+This ensures that `./configure` runs fresh system checks when necessary.  
+
+### **When to Use `configure -C`**
+- **Use it** when making minor code changes that don’t affect system dependencies.  
+- **Avoid it** after system updates, compiler changes, or dependency modifications to prevent build inconsistencies.  
+
+---
+
+### **Why This Additional Detail?**
+- **The `-C` flag behavior**: Makes it clear when to use or avoid it.  
+- **Cache clearing instructions**: Important to prevent build failures due to stale configuration data.  
+- **More structured benefits**: Helps new contributors understand why they should use it.  
+
+Would you like me to format this differently or adjust anything before you submit the PR? 🚀
+
+
+
+
+
+
+You said:
+i need a detailed version of this make it such that the chances of merging becomes 100%
+ChatGPT said:
+Here's a detailed and well-structured version of the documentation, ensuring clarity and completeness while following Python's devguide standards. This version should maximize your chances of merging the PR successfully.
+
+Final Version for setup.rst
+r
+Copy
+Edit
+.. _configure-cache:
+
+Using Configure Cache (`configure -C`)
+--------------------------------------
+
+### **Overview**  
+
+When running `./configure`, CPython performs a series of system checks to detect available features, libraries, and compiler options. These checks help generate a proper `Makefile` for building CPython. However, a fresh configuration scan can take significant time, especially on slower systems or when running it frequently during development.  
+
+To optimize this process, you can use the **configure cache** (`configure -C`), which saves the results of previous runs and reuses them for subsequent configurations.  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    ./configure -C
+
+By caching detected system properties, this approach **eliminates redundant checks**, making reconfigurations significantly faster.  
+
+---
+
+### **Benefits of Using Configure Cache**  
+
+Using `configure -C` can enhance the development workflow in multiple ways:  
+
+- **Speeds up rebuilds**: Avoids rechecking system dependencies, making incremental changes quicker.  
+- **Reduces system load**: Skips redundant computations, lowering CPU usage.  
+- **Improves iteration time**: Speeds up the edit-configure-build-test cycle, especially for developers frequently modifying CPython’s internals.  
+- **Ensures consistency**: Maintains uniform configuration settings across multiple runs unless the cache is explicitly cleared.  
+
+---
+
+### **When to Use `configure -C`?**  
+
+| Scenario                                      | Use `configure -C`? | Reason |
+|----------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------|
+| Small code changes (e.g., modifying `.c` files) | ✅ Yes           | Avoids unnecessary reconfiguration steps. |
+| Frequent rebuilds without system changes      | ✅ Yes           | Saves time and system resources. |
+| Upgrading system libraries (e.g., OpenSSL)    | ❌ No            | Cache may store outdated results, leading to inconsistencies. |
+| Changing compiler settings or flags           | ❌ No            | A fresh `./configure` run is needed to reflect changes. |
+| Switching between Python build environments   | ❌ No            | Using cache might introduce conflicts between builds. |
+
+---
+
+### **Clearing the Configure Cache**  
+
+If you have modified system settings, upgraded dependencies, or changed compiler options, it's recommended to **clear the cache** before re-running `./configure` to avoid build inconsistencies.  
+
+To remove the cached configuration results, use:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    rm -f config.cache
+
+This ensures that `./configure` performs a fresh system scan, preventing potential errors due to stale configuration data.  
+
+**Best Practice**: If you encounter unexpected build issues after using `configure -C`, try clearing the cache first before debugging further.  
+
+---
+
+### **Additional Notes**  
+
+- `configure -C` only **caches successful test results**. If a check fails, it will still be re-run in subsequent configurations.  
+- Some system changes might not require clearing the cache, but if in doubt, it's safer to remove it.  
+- The cache is stored in `config.cache` in the build directory and is automatically used if present when `configure -C` is executed.  
+
+---
+
+### **Summary**  
+
+- `./configure -C` caches system checks to speed up rebuilds.  
+- Recommended for frequent code changes but **not** for system or compiler updates.  
+- Clear the cache using `rm -f config.cache` when necessary.  
+
+By following these guidelines, you can make the most out of `configure -C` while ensuring stable and efficient builds.  
+
+---

developer-workflow/extension-modules.rst

@@ -277,6 +277,135 @@ project on different platforms.
 
 Updating ``Modules/Setup.{bootstrap,stdlib}.in``
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+.. _configure-cache:
+
+Using Configure Cache (`configure -C`)
+--------------------------------------
+
+When running `./configure`, CPython performs a series of system checks, which can take time.  
+To speed up repeated builds, you can use the **configure cache**, which saves previous results:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    ./configure -C
+
+### **Benefits**
+- **Faster rebuilds**: Avoids redundant system checks, making subsequent runs quicker.  
+- **Improves development workflow**: Speeds up the edit-configure-build-test cycle, especially for frequent changes.  
+- **Reduces CPU and disk usage**: Skips unnecessary recomputation of configuration results.  
+
+### **Clearing the Cache**
+If you modify system settings, upgrade dependencies, or suspect cache-related issues,  
+clear the cache before reconfiguring to avoid outdated settings:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    rm -f config.cache
+
+This ensures that `./configure` runs fresh system checks when necessary.  
+
+### **When to Use `configure -C`**
+- **Use it** when making minor code changes that don’t affect system dependencies.  
+- **Avoid it** after system updates, compiler changes, or dependency modifications to prevent build inconsistencies.  
+
+---
+
+### **Why This Additional Detail?**
+- **The `-C` flag behavior**: Makes it clear when to use or avoid it.  
+- **Cache clearing instructions**: Important to prevent build failures due to stale configuration data.  
+- **More structured benefits**: Helps new contributors understand why they should use it.  
+
+Would you like me to format this differently or adjust anything before you submit the PR? 🚀
+
+
+
+
+
+
+You said:
+i need a detailed version of this make it such that the chances of merging becomes 100%
+ChatGPT said:
+Here's a detailed and well-structured version of the documentation, ensuring clarity and completeness while following Python's devguide standards. This version should maximize your chances of merging the PR successfully.
+
+Final Version for setup.rst
+r
+Copy
+Edit
+.. _configure-cache:
+
+Using Configure Cache (`configure -C`)
+--------------------------------------
+
+### **Overview**  
+
+When running `./configure`, CPython performs a series of system checks to detect available features, libraries, and compiler options. These checks help generate a proper `Makefile` for building CPython. However, a fresh configuration scan can take significant time, especially on slower systems or when running it frequently during development.  
+
+To optimize this process, you can use the **configure cache** (`configure -C`), which saves the results of previous runs and reuses them for subsequent configurations.  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    ./configure -C
+
+By caching detected system properties, this approach **eliminates redundant checks**, making reconfigurations significantly faster.  
+
+---
+
+### **Benefits of Using Configure Cache**  
+
+Using `configure -C` can enhance the development workflow in multiple ways:  
+
+- **Speeds up rebuilds**: Avoids rechecking system dependencies, making incremental changes quicker.  
+- **Reduces system load**: Skips redundant computations, lowering CPU usage.  
+- **Improves iteration time**: Speeds up the edit-configure-build-test cycle, especially for developers frequently modifying CPython’s internals.  
+- **Ensures consistency**: Maintains uniform configuration settings across multiple runs unless the cache is explicitly cleared.  
+
+---
+
+### **When to Use `configure -C`?**  
+
+| Scenario                                      | Use `configure -C`? | Reason |
+|----------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------|
+| Small code changes (e.g., modifying `.c` files) | ✅ Yes           | Avoids unnecessary reconfiguration steps. |
+| Frequent rebuilds without system changes      | ✅ Yes           | Saves time and system resources. |
+| Upgrading system libraries (e.g., OpenSSL)    | ❌ No            | Cache may store outdated results, leading to inconsistencies. |
+| Changing compiler settings or flags           | ❌ No            | A fresh `./configure` run is needed to reflect changes. |
+| Switching between Python build environments   | ❌ No            | Using cache might introduce conflicts between builds. |
+
+---
+
+### **Clearing the Configure Cache**  
+
+If you have modified system settings, upgraded dependencies, or changed compiler options, it's recommended to **clear the cache** before re-running `./configure` to avoid build inconsistencies.  
+
+To remove the cached configuration results, use:  
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    rm -f config.cache
+
+This ensures that `./configure` performs a fresh system scan, preventing potential errors due to stale configuration data.  
+
+**Best Practice**: If you encounter unexpected build issues after using `configure -C`, try clearing the cache first before debugging further.  
+
+---
+
+### **Additional Notes**  
+
+- `configure -C` only **caches successful test results**. If a check fails, it will still be re-run in subsequent configurations.  
+- Some system changes might not require clearing the cache, but if in doubt, it's safer to remove it.  
+- The cache is stored in `config.cache` in the build directory and is automatically used if present when `configure -C` is executed.  
+
+---
+
+### **Summary**  
+
+- `./configure -C` caches system checks to speed up rebuilds.  
+- Recommended for frequent code changes but **not** for system or compiler updates.  
+- Clear the cache using `rm -f config.cache` when necessary.  
+
+By following these guidelines, you can make the most out of `configure -C` while ensuring stable and efficient builds.  
+
+---
 
 Depending on whether the extension module is required to get a functioning
 interpreter or not, we update :cpy-file:`Modules/Setup.bootstrap.in` or