[Python-bugs-list] [Bug #117070] README instructions for configuring Setup are not helpful

[noreply@sourceforge.net]

Bug #117070, was updated on 2000-Oct-17 02:54
Here is a current snapshot of the bug.

Project: Python
Category: Documentation
Status: Closed
Resolution: Fixed
Bug Group: None
Priority: 6
Summary: README instructions for configuring Setup are not helpful

Details: The instructions in the README file for configuring the Setup file are not useful. There is no indication of when you are supposed to edit the file. So far as I can tell the only way to configure python is either:

  ./configure
  make
  vim Modules/Setup
  make

or:

  ./configure
  vim Modules/Setup.in
  make

neither of which are particularly satisfactory.

The README file simply says "if [the Setup file] does not exist yet, make a copy yourself", without any indication of how you actually do this. 'make Setup' in the Modules directory does not work because there is no Makefile in the Modules directory yet.

Follow-Ups:

Date: 2000-Oct-18 16:28
By: none

Comment:
in my copy of the README file, there's a section called
"Build instructions", which tells you to build a basic interpreter (configure, make), and then tells you to see the sections on "testing", "configuring additional modules", and "installation"...

sounds like you only read the "configuring additional modules" section...

(satisfactory or not, it's a good idea to make sure the interpreter builds cleanly on your platform *before* you start fiddling with the extension modules...)

</F>
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Date: 2000-Oct-18 17:28
By: jribbens

Comment:
Your README must be different to mine, mine says "Before you can build Python, you must first configure it."

The method that you are proposing is completely counter-intuitive and is precisely what you *must not* do when compiling most other programs.

If this is what you are supposed to do then it needs to say so in BIG LETTERS.
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Date: 2000-Oct-24 13:37
By: fdrake

Comment:
This is a case of "RTFM, from the top".  There's no need to change the content of the README.
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Date: 2000-Oct-24 14:26
By: fdrake

Comment:
Jon insists that I'm wrong about this one, and another look leads me to think he's probably right.  (Sorry, Jon!)

I don't have time to revise the file now, but should be able to do so later tonight or in the morning.
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Date: 2000-Oct-25 10:52
By: fdrake

Comment:
Adjusted instructions in README revision 1.105, along with a few other small additions.

Jon, please let me know if you feel the changes are insufficient!
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For detailed info, follow this link:
http://sourceforge.net/bugs/?func=detailbug&bug_id=117070&group_id=5470