[Python-Dev] distutils change breaks code, Pyfort

[Guido van Rossum]

> >>>>> "PFD" == Paul F Dubois <paul@pfdubois.com> writes:
> 
>   PFD> The requirement of a version argument to the distutils command
>   PFD> breaks Pyfort and many of my existing packages. These packages
>   PFD> are not intended for use with the distribution commands and a
>   PFD> package version number would be meaningless.
> 
>   PFD> I will make a new Pyfort that supplies a version number to the
>   PFD> call it makes to setup. However, I think this change to
>   PFD> distutils is a poor idea. If the version number would be
>   PFD> required for the distribution commands, let *them* complain,
>   PFD> perhaps by setting a default value of
>   PFD> time.asctime(time.gmtime()) or something that the distribution
>   PFD> commands could object to.
> 
>   PFD> I apologize if I missed an earlier discussion of this change
>   PFD> that seems to be in 2.1b2 but not 2.1b1, as I am new to this
>   PFD> list.
> 
> I haven't read any discussion of distutils changes that was discussed
> on this list.  It's a good question, though.  Should distutils be
> allowed to change between beta releases in a way that breaks user
> code?
> 
> There are two possibilities:
> 
> 1. Guido has decided that distutils release cycles need not be related
>    to Python release cycles.  He has said as much for pydoc.  If so,
>    the timing of the change is just an unhappy coincidence.
> 
> 2. Distutils is considered to be part of the standard library and
>    should follow the same rules as the rest of the library.  No new
>    features after the first beta release, just bug fixes.  And no
>    incompatible changes without ample warning.
> 
> I think that distutils is mature enough to follow the second set of
> rules -- and that the change should be reverted before the final
> release.
> 
> Jeremy

I agree.  *Allowing* a version argument is fine.  *Requiring* it is
too late in the game.  (And may be a wrong choice anyway, but I'm not
sure of the issues.)

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)