Help! Host is reluctant to install Python

[phr at localhost.localdomain]

Daniel Bickett <dbickett at gmail.com> writes:
> I've been trying to convince my host to install python/mod_python on
> his server for a while now, however there are a number of reasons he
> is reluctant to do so, which I will outline here:

I'm surprised that you're getting such detailed answers from him.
Usually, low-cost web hosts want to offer a one-size-fits-all package
that requires minimal interaction with customers.  If you're paying
$10 a month for hosting and a host admin has to spend 1 hour sending
you email, that probably wipes out at least 6 months of profits from
you as a customer.  If you want custom service you usually have to pay
a lo tmore.

> 1. His major reason is optimization. He uses Zend's optimization of
> PHP as an example, and he has stated that python is rather resource
> consuming.

Maybe that's true, though if there's enough customer demand for Python
anyway, the answer is to buy more equipment and pass the costs on.
The real problem is there's not enough demand.

> 2. Another one of his points is that he is unexperienced in installing
> python, and he would not know how to do it securely. By 'securely',
> I'm assuming he means disallowing a malicious (or ignorant) user from
> harming the server

That's a serious issue too, and "securely" means not just securing
against the service's own customers, but also against outside attacks.
I have no idea how carefully mod_python has been audited.  I don't use
it myself, though I do run some Python cgi's.

> I have no experience with this sort of thing, so I'm asking a little
> assistance in the direction of any documents or websites (or what have
> you) I could show him in order to answer some of these questions, or
> perhaps even some unspoken ones -- anything worth noting. (all I'm
> really going to do is link him to this thread once it has accumulated
> any answers)

I think you should look into some type of virtual hosting that gives
you more ability to install your own software.  Typing "uml hosting"
(UML is user-mode Linux) into Google finds a lot of such services.  If
you find one that you like, post it here, I'm interested in this myself.