Bring in missing python (system dependency) (#1639)

* Introduce python as a system dependency (needed by node-gyp to compile native modules)
* Introduce node-pre-gyp as a dependency
* Upgrade sqlite3 to 5.1.7 to test the above

Note: Currently this still depends on the availability of prebuilt binaries from the prebuild library. Which means that once a new version is available, only then will we know if this python/node-gyp integration works or whether it will still fallback to the availability of the prebuilt binaries from external sources. Only time will tell if we have solved the issue or not.

1 files changed, 7 insertions, 4 deletions

diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 887a72a5a..753068434 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/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 _Note:_ This list can likely get outdated.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 +63,14 @@ 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).
+Python is only/mainly required to compile any dependencies for which the binary is not found, and we have to resort to compiling from source (for eg sqlite3)
+
+_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