[Python-Dev] [Distutils] how to easily consume just the parts of eggs that are good for you

[Paul Moore]

On 09/04/2008, Stanley A. Klein <sklein at cpcug.org> wrote:
> IMHO, the main system without a package manager is Windows.  A reasonable
>  way to deal with Windows would be to create a package manager for it that
>  could be used by Python and anyone else who wanted to use it.  The package
>  manager could establish a file hierarchy similar to the Unix FHS and
>  install files appropriately, except for what is needed to satisfy the
>  Windows OS.  That would probably go a long way to addressing the issues
>  being discussed here.  This is primarily a Windows problem, not a Python
>  problem.

Windows does have a package manager - the add/remove programs
application. It's extremely limited, and doesn't make any attempt at
doing dependency resolution, certainly - but that's a separate issue.

I don't know if you use Windows (as in, develop programs using Python
on Windows). If you do, then I'd be interested in your views on
bdist_wininst and bdist_msi installers, and how they fit into the
setuptools/egg environment, particularly with regard to the package
manager you are proposing. If you don't use Windows, then I don't see
how you can usefully comment.

Personally, as I've said before, I don't have a problem with a
Python-only package manager, as long as it replaces or integrates
bdist_wininst and bdist_msi. Having two package managers is far worse
than having none - and claiming that add/remove programs "isn't a
package manager" is just ignoring reality (if it isn't, then why do
bdist_wininst and bdist_msi exist?).

Are the Linux users happy with having a Python package manager that
ignores RPM/apt? Why should Windows users be any happier?

Sorry - I'm feeling a little grumpy. I've read one too many "Windows
is so broken that people who use it obviously don't care about doing
things right" postings this week :-(

Paul.