Can Python be run off of a CD-ROM?

[Michael Hudson]

eddie at holyrood.ed.ac.uk (Eddie Corns) writes:

> "BJ MacNevin" <BJ at replyhere.now> writes:
> 
> >Hi all,
> 
> >I teach middle school and am currently trying to bring some computer science
> >to the students. Our district has a wonderfully linked network throughout
> >all our schools... done via MS Windows Network. In order to protect the
> >network, our district's IT department does not want things installed on the
> >system (or at least makes it VERY difficult to get it done). SO, I am using
> >MSW Logo installed onto a CD-ROM... we just stick in the CD-ROMS and run it
> >off of them.
> 
> >BUT, I am learning about Python and think it is TERRIFIC! So I wonder if I
> >can do the same thing... or something similar? Is there a way to install
> >Python on a CD-ROM, too, if we don't need it to be accessed from a command
> >prompt?

Instinct says this Should Just Work.  Things to worry about are
whether Python gets uppity about not being able to write to sys.path
(shouldn't do, happens all the time on linux) and making sure Python
can find its files.

[...]
> Anyway, to answer the main question.  You can create a file system with all the
> Python files on it and run from there but I think the main problem is search
> paths and the like.  I believe you ideally need to get the relevant information
> into the registry but if you're not able to I think this is problematic.

I am *fairly* sure that recent Pythons do not go near the registry.
win32all stuff does, and probably has to to get COM stuff working.

Cheers,
mwh

-- 
  It is time-consuming to produce high-quality software. However,
  that should not alone be a reason to give up the high standards
  of Python development.              -- Martin von Loewis, python-dev