[Python-Dev] RFC: Including PIL in 1.6
Greg Ward
gward@mems-exchange.org
Fri, 23 Jun 2000 11:42:03 -0400
On 20 June 2000, esr@thyrsus.com said:
> Watch that argument -- it could turn and bite you. What's the justification
> for including, e.g. POP client classes in the standard distribution?
>
> One of Python's most important strengths is the "batteries *are*
> included" richness of the standard environment.
I totally agree. There are two extremes, both completely silly: include
nothing with Python (except string, re, os, and sys -- because Distutils
needs them ;-), and include every useful, working, documented module
under the sun. I don't think anyone would seriously argue for either
approach. (Although you could argue that a completely stripped-down
Python might be useful in certain environments, eg. a hand-held. But I
don't think you'd win that argument.)
And I will be the first to admit that the Distutils still aren't good
enough: in most respects, they're better than MakeMaker (IMHO), but
there's nothing like CPAN.pm or the XEmacs package manager. And I know
from personal experience that, amazing as CPAN.pm is, it's not The
Answer; and others have attested, that XEmacs is pretty damn good but
still not perfect.
But I still don't think PIL should be included in the core, if only
because it's one of the Distutils "test cases". ;-)
Greg
--
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