[Python-Dev] magic in setuptools (Was: setuptools in the stdlib)

[Greg Ewing]

Martin v. Löwis wrote:

> I can readily believe that package authors indeed see this as
> a simplification, but I also see an increased burden on system
> admins in return.

There are two conflicting desires here. Package authors
don't want to have to make M different kinds of package
for M different systems. System administrators don't want
to have to deal with N different kinds of package originating
from N different software development environments.

What can be done about this? Maybe some kind of babel
server in the middle, which knows how to convert between
all the different packaging formats. Authors submit
packages in the form which is easiest for them to
produce, and users request packages in the form which
is easiest for them to install. The server does whatever
is necessary to convert between them.

Perhaps something along these lines could be incorporated
into the cheeseshop? So you could ask e.g. for your
favourite package in .rpm format, and if it only knew
how to get it in .egg format it would feed it to a
handy bdist-bot for conversion.

--
Greg