[Numpy-discussion] scipy, matplotlib, and installation dependencies.(previously: Numeric3)

[Chris Barker]

Perry Greenfield wrote:
>  Until we do, I'd favor an approach
> that shoots for a smaller, easily installable core, with a simple
> way of asking for optional packages (having users edit setup.py
> is probably asking too much).

It's well worth looking into MacPython's PackMan (AKA PIMP). Jack Jansen 
designed it to be non-platform specific. Indeed, a wxPython GUI from end 
has already been developed. Who knows whether it could ever become the 
definitive CPAN-like tool for Python, but it could be a great way to 
distribute SciPy packages.

For those who have never seen it, with a GUI front-end, you point it at 
a URL (there is a default one), and it gives you a list of packages 
available, flagged as to whether they are installed or not. You click on 
what you want, it gets downloaded and installed. That's it. It works 
very nicely for OS-X, though you do need someone(s) to maintain the 
package repository.

-Chris


-- 
Christopher Barker, Ph.D.
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