[Distutils] get_python_inc(), get_python_lib()

[Greg Ward]

On 09 March 2000, Fred L. Drake, Jr. said:
>   I was just looking at sysconfig.py again, and I'm not sure I really
> like the interfaces to get_python_*().  In particular, the
> plat_specific parameter seems strange, especially since it will
> produce the same result in most cases.
>   Perhaps the Right Way To Do It(TM) would be to drop the parameter
> and return a list containing all the dirs that apply.  To locate
> config.h, for instance, search each location in the list.

But it's not just for finding stuff -- it's also for installing stuff.
Actually, I think include files should probably always be installed to
the platform-specific directory:

  * include files are presumably only distributed with extensions
    ("non-pure distribtions")
  * we've said again and again that all modules in a non-pure
    distribution go under exec-prefix
  * one of the arguments in favour of that is so that you don't
    get version/platform mismatches
  * that argument is just as strong for C header files
  * therefore, C header files should always be installed (at least
    on Unix) to <exec-prefix>/include/python1.X/<distname>

But we still need access to both include directories, e.g. if you need
to find Python.h (or if you need to add its directory to the compiler
command line, which you most certainly do: I just haven't updated the
build_ext command to use the new function interface yet, it's still
using the UPPERCASE_GLOBALS interface).

However, for installation, we certainly care about the difference
between the platform-specific and platform-shared lib directories.
Hence the 'plat_specific' argument to 'get_python_lib()'.

>   I'd also rename get_python_inc() to get_python_include(), but
> perhaps that's just me.  ;)

Yeah, I think you're right.  One change at a time, though...  ;-)

        Greg
-- 
Greg Ward - just another /P(erl|ython)/ hacker          gward@python.net
http://starship.python.net/~gward/
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than have to have a frontal lobotomy.