(Cygwin) Python Questions

[Jason Tishler]

Stephane,

Please post instead of sending private email.

On Fri, Mar 15, 2002 at 10:08:39AM +0100, Stephane Tallard wrote:
> I'm the one you advised some days ago to use Cygwin Python to resolve my
> problem of rederecting python scripts ouptput under cygwin rxvt.
> 
> I've followed that wise advise. I've use used Cygwin Python for basic
> scripting tasks and I feel very pleased to
> use on my Windows platform the flavor and robustness of unix.
> 
> But, "appetite comes while eating" and I expect my job to turn into more
> on-the-cutting--edge tasks.
> I thank you in advance for the time you could spend answering my questions.
> 
> Basically, what's the difference between Cygwin-Python and regular-Python ?

Cygwin Python is essentially a Unix Python that is dependent on the
Cygwin Posix emulation DLL for Posix semantics.  By "regular" do you
mean Win32?  If so, then Cygwin and Regular Python are "very" different
even though they run on the "same" platform.  Just compare Win32 Python
to any Unix one to see what are the major differences.

> They link with different libraries?

Yes.

> They need different dynamic libraries?

Yes.

> The both of two?

Sorry, I don't understand the above question.

> That question was for my personal information . What I would finally know is:
> If I want to shift from python 2.1. to Python 2.2 can I use
> frankly the www.python.org 2.2. package ( It would sound strange to me ).

I think so, but I don't quite get this question too.

> If there is a new release of python, will there be a
> corresponding cygwin release in the same manner I can find a sun, win32 or
> whatever release ?

Yes, Cygwin Python 2.2 already exits:

    http://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin-announce/2002/msg00001.html

> I would like to know too if there are some limitations in using python
> packages. I suppose there 's no limitation in using packages that
> don't use dynamic libraries. But Is is the same thing to usepackages that
> use dynamic libraries linking with non cygwin compliant modules ?
> Are there comptibilty problems?

There could be -- shared extensions are not guaranteed to run on all
platforms. Hence, some porting effort may be required by you if they
don't already run on your platforms of interest.

> PyXML and perhaps wxWindows are packages I could use.

Sorry, I don't about the portability of the above.  Maybe someone else
does.

Jason