[Python-Dev] Status of PEP 397 - Python launcher for Windows

[Paul Moore]

On 19 February 2012 03:09, Mark Hammond <mhammond at skippinet.com.au> wrote:
> Thanks for the note Paul, but did you also mean to CC python-dev?

Yes, I did, sorry.

>
> On 18/02/2012 9:15 PM, Paul Moore wrote:
>>
>> On 18 February 2012 05:24, Mark Hammond<skippy.hammond at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm wondering what thoughts are on PEP 397, the Python launcher for
>>> Windows.
>>>  I've been using the implementation for a number of months now and I find
>>> it
>>> incredibly useful.
>>
>>
>> I use it all the time. It's extremely useful, and I wouldn't be without
>> it.
>>
>> [OT: One interesting property I find useful - if you put an alias
>> "vpython=python.exe" in the ini file (no path to Python) then
>> #!vpython picks up whatever Python is on PATH - this can be very
>> useful if you use virtualenvs a lot and want to run a script with the
>> current virtualenv]
>>
>>> Thoughts or comments?
>>
>>
>> IIRC, one question was how to manage multiple installs - if I install
>> Python 3.3 and 3.4, both of which install py.exe, and then uninstall
>> one, what happens to py.exe. What if I then uninstall the second?
>> Reference count the launcher?
>>
>> If it were possible to package up the launcher installer with the
>> Python installer, but then install it as a separate item, that might
>> be best (it's what MS products seem to do a lot - install one, get ten
>> extra - I don't like the way MS do it, but it seems appropriate here).
>> This would also allow python.org to host a standalone version of the
>> installer which could be installed seamlessly for older versions.
>>
>> Paul
>
>