Add minimum sphinx version and error message

Author: Birgit Schachler

doc/conf.py

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 import sys
 import os
+import sphinx
+from sphinx.errors import VersionRequirementError
 
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
@@ -23,7 +25,10 @@
 # -- General configuration ------------------------------------------------
 
 # If your documentation needs a minimal Sphinx version, state it here.
-#needs_sphinx = '1.0'
+needs_sphinx = '1.4.3'
+if needs_sphinx > sphinx.__display_version__:
+    message = 'This project needs at least Sphinx v%s' % needs_sphinx
+    raise VersionRequirementError(message)
 
 # Add any Sphinx extension module names here, as strings. They can be
 # extensions coming with Sphinx (named 'sphinx.ext.*') or your custom