Ann: ActivePython 2.1 (build 210)

[Stephen]

    BeOpen was the company that sponsored GvR/et-al for the period when they
released 2.0, so "BeOpen Python" is just 'Python 2.0'. For that
'distribution', ignore 'BeOpen', and just think, 'Python 2.0'. Its all it
is, with a branded name on it. Now we're up to 2.1, and as far as I am
aware, there are only two "distributions" of it.

    The Official one, which is downloadable from www.python.org, and the
ActiveState one. ActivePython is the Official distribution, with a few bells
and whistles added, I believe.

    Zope includes its own version of Python 1.5.2 because it hasn't yet been
"upgraded" to support Python 2.0+. When that occurs, they'll start shipping
it with 2.x. They may still continue to bundle their own Python interpreter,
even after its upgraded to 2.x, to make sure that everything works well
together. Then again, they may not.

    As for Komodo, I don't know :) I don't have it installed currently, just
did a massive hdd-wipe and reinstall (Doncha love running windows?) so I
can't tell you. If memory serves, though, you could tell it to use whatever
python interpreter you choose that is installed; there's a configuration
option.

HTH,

--Stephen
(replace 'NOSPAM' with 'seraph' to respond)

"haaserd" <haaserd at yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3ADF7843.42C686AD at yahoo.com...
> I am confused about the different Python distributions and how they fit
(or
> don't fit) together.  I have been using BeOPen Python 2.0 for awhile and
> recently downloaded ActiveState Komodo.  Komodo seems to come with it's
own
> Python 2.0, but doesn't appear to have the doc folder or Idle (I am a
> Windows user).
>
> Even more confusing, Komodo appears to be using the BeOpen Python because
I
> added PIL to it.  I haven't located PIL in Komodo's Python, but I can
access
> the PIL module.
>
> And most recently, I have just started tinkering with Zope, which appears
to
> have its own Python 1.5.
>
> So how does ActivePython fit into this scheme?  Will I be able to
eliminate
> the BeOpen and the Komodo Pythons (and continue to use Komodo and Idle)?
>
> Roger Haase
>
>
>
> Paul Prescod wrote:
>
> > We are pleased to announce ActivePython 2.1 (build 210), a distribution
> > of Python 2.1.
> >
> > http://www.activestate.com/ASPN/Downloads/ActivePython/
> >
> > ActivePython contains a superset of the functionality available in the
> > reference distribution of Python. It has been tested on a variety of
> > platforms including various variants of Windows 9X, NT and 2000, Red Hat
> > and Debian.
> >
> > Highlights of ActivePython 2.1:
> >
> >  On all platforms:
> >
> >   * full Python 2.1 support (100% compatible)
> >   * rebuilt package repository including Numeric, PIL, PyXML, etc.
> >   * bundled XML parser and zlib compression library
> >
> >  On Win32:
> >
> >  * interactive win32 module browser
> >  * bundled Tk
> >  * enhanced version of the bundled Pythonwin environment
> >  * upgraded win32 extensions
> >
> > ActivePython 2.1 also supports all of the new features of Python 2.1,
> > including:
> >
> >  * "weak references" facility for implementing caches and other similar
> > data structures.
> >  * richer comparison mechanism
> >  * warning framework
> >  * new module documentation extraction facility
> >  * ability to refer to variables from any containing scope.
> >  * unit testing features
> >  * faster line by line file reading
> >
> > We at ActiveState are proud to provide ActivePython to the Python
> > community!
> >
> >  Paul Prescod
> >  ActivePython Technical Lead
> > --
> > Take a recipe. Leave a recipe.
> > Python Cookbook!  http://www.ActiveState.com/pythoncookbook
>