packaging a python project and associated graphics files

[Rajarshi Guha]

Hi, I've been trying to package a python project and I'm a little confused
about how I distribute some PNG's that the program uses as icons.

Using distutils I can set the data_files argument of setup() and get my
data files located in, say, /usr/local/mydata.

However when I write my code, it would seem that I have to hardcode the
above path. But this would mean that while working on the code I would
need to have it 'installed' on my system (or else actually make the above
directory).

This seems a little unwieldy. How do people handle this situation?

Thanks,