[Distutils] how to easily consume just the parts of eggs that are good for you

[Floris Bruynooghe]

On Wed, Apr 09, 2008 at 02:26:31PM -0400, Stanley A. Klein wrote:
> I don't know what Windows add/remove
> programs function does, but all it might do is to run the executable to
> install packages and record the installation (as was previously done by
> third party programs) to facilitate clean removal.  Unless you can perform
> more of the other functions I listed above, I doubt I would call
> add/remove a package manager.

Ugh, you have yet to discover the horrors/wonders of MSI (I wish I was
as naive as you here!).  A properly installed windows program will
install using an MSI database, registering each file, registry setting
etc.  Often a setup.exe will still interface with the MSI database in
the background (they should, there's a C API for it too).  MSI will
even do stuff like reference counting how many programs need a certain
file (in case you have something installed in a shared directory),
figure out what to do on conflict etc.  They have many anc complicated
rules, options and features.

As far as I am concerned MSI (and thus Add/Remove Programs) can be
treated as a package manager in windows.


Regards
Floris

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