Why does Python never add itself to the Windows path?

[Thomas Heller]

Ben Sizer schrieb:
> Gabriel Genellina wrote:
> 

>> Notice that there is NO need to alter the system path. You just have
>> to tell Windows where python.exe resides; there is a per-application
>> path located at
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths.
>> In order to launch Python just writing "python" at the command
>> prompt, the installer should -instead of playing with the system
>> path- create a new key below App Paths, named "python.exe", and set
>> its default value to the full path of the installed python executable.
>> See
>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_extending/fileassociations/fa_perceived_types.asp
> 
>>From what I can tell, that is solely for file associations. If so, it
> will work if you type "setup.py install" but not if you type "python
> setup.py install". For instance, I have an entry for Firefox in that
> part of the registry, but if you try executing "firefox" at the command
> line, it fails.

Not really.  It's for ShellExecute, which is used for the 'run' entry in the
start menu, or when you type 'start firefox' from the command line.

Thomas