Fix to allow installation with Python 3.8

pynest/nest/import_libs.py

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import ast
 import os
+import sys
 
 
 # We search through the subdirectory "lib" of the "nest" module
@@ -68,7 +69,13 @@ def import_libs(mod_file, mod_dict, path,
         # construct from .pkg_name import *
         names = [ast.alias(name='*', asname=None)]
         body = [ast.ImportFrom(module=pkg_name, names=names, level=level)]
-        module = ast.fix_missing_locations(ast.Module(body=body))
+
+        # changes in python 3.8
+        # see https://bugs.python.org/issue35894
+        if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
+            module = ast.fix_missing_locations(ast.Module(body=body, type_ignores=[]))
+        else:
+            module = ast.fix_missing_locations(ast.Module(body=body))
 
         code = compile(module, mod_file, 'exec')
         exec(code, mod_dict, mod_dict)

pynest/nest/tests/test_sp/test_growth_curves.py

@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 import unittest
 import nest
 import time
+import sys
+
 HAVE_OPENMP = nest.ll_api.sli_func("is_threaded")
 
 
@@ -306,15 +308,13 @@ def simulate(self):
         self.se_python = numpy.zeros(
             (len(self.se_integrator), len(self.sim_steps)))
 
-        start = time.clock()
         for t_i, t in enumerate(self.sim_steps):
             for n_i, n in enumerate(self.local_nodes):
                 self.ca_nest[n_i][t_i], synaptic_elements = nest.GetStatus(
                     [n], ('Ca', 'synaptic_elements'))[0]
                 self.se_nest[n_i][t_i] = synaptic_elements['se']['z']
             nest.Simulate(self.sim_step)
 
-        start = time.clock()
         tmp = nest.GetStatus(self.spike_detector, 'events')[0]
         spikes_all = tmp['times']
         senders_all = tmp['senders']