best way to install python modules on linux

[Harry George]

Fabian Braennstroem <f.braennstroem at gmx.de> writes:

> Hi,
> 
> I am pretty new to python and will use it mainly in
> combination with scientific packages. I am running ubuntu
> breezy right now and see that some packages are out of date.
> Do you have any suggestion, how I can get/keep the latest
> python modules (e.g. scipy, numpy,...) on my ubuntu system?
> I.e. does there exist any script/program, which downloads
> and installs automatically the latest stable releases of selected
> modules? It would be nice, if the program can remove the
> installed modules, too!?
> 
> Or would it be easier to stick to apt/deb and create own
> packages ...
> 
> 
> Greetings!
>  Fabian
> 

I find it helpful to leave the as-delivered Python (e.g.,
/usr/bin/python) as-is.  It is being used to run your basic Linux
system.  Screwing around with it can have nasty side effects.  Instead
I build a new one at /usr/local, give it a unique name, and
upgrade/hack that one to my heart's content.  E.g., if the base system
is using Python 2.2, you can be running Python 2.4 as
/usr/local/bin/py24, and add all the numerical packages you wish at
use/local/lib/python2.4/site-packages.  Also, make sure root doesn't
have /usr/local/bin on its PATH (which is a good rule anyway).




-- 
Harry George
PLM Engineering Architecture