Linux/Win32 func. to get Python instdir (not exedir) + site-packages => extensions mgmt

[pythonewbie]

On 20 jan, 23:55, "Diez B. Roggisch" <de... at nospam.web.de> wrote:
> pythonewbie schrieb:
>
>
>
> > On 20 jan, 20:59, "Diez B. Roggisch" <de... at nospam.web.de> wrote:
> >> pythonewbie schrieb:
>
> >>> On 20 jan, 19:50, "Diez B. Roggisch" <de... at nospam.web.de> wrote:
> >>>> pythonewbie schrieb:
> >>>>> On 20 jan, 12:20, Christian Heimes <li... at cheimes.de> wrote:
> >>>>>> pythonewbie wrote:
> >>>>>>> I am stucked on creating a function to get the Python install
> >>>>>>> directory (and site-packages directory) with a 100% reliable method...
> >>>>>> Only one method is 100% reliable:
> >>>>>> try:
> >>>>>>     import yourextension
> >>>>>> except ImportError:
> >>>>>>     available = False
> >>>>>> else:
> >>>>>>     available = True
> >>>>>> Christian
> >>>>> Hi Christian,
> >>>>> OK thanks, interesting to detect if an extension is available or not.
> >>>>> But for different reasons I also want to get the absolute path of
> >>>>> Python install directory (not only the executable under Linux) and
> >>>>> site-packages directory.
> >>>>> How could I proceed ?
> >>>> Maybe sys.path is a starter?
> >>>> Diez
> >>> Yes, it is, but my problem is that I am not sure to find the
> >>> information I need at the same position of the list generated by
> >>> sys.path.
> >>> I explain, for Win32, I find install directory using sys.path[6] and
> >>> site-package directory using sys.path[7], for Linux I find install
> >>> directory using sys.path[2] and site-package directory using
> >>> sys.path[6].
> >>> For my tests, I have used XP Pro and Ubuntu Gutsy.
> >>> I am not sure to find these information at the same position in the
> >>> sys.path list using Win9x, Win2k, Ubuntu Dapper, Redhat FC6, FreeBSD
> >>> and using Python v2.1 2.2 2.3 etc ?
> >>> This why I'm asking experienced programmers of this usenet group for
> >>> advices.
> >> Sorry, I missed your first post. However, I don't see what your problem
> >> actually is. If you want to look for any extension, you need to consider
> >> whatever can be seen in the sys.path. So what do you care about the
> >> order of them?
>
> >> Diez
>
> > I just would like to know if I would ALWAYS find the install directory
> > in sys.path[6] and site-packages directory in sys.path[7] on any Win32
> > platform and sys.path[2] and site-packages directory in sys.path[6] on
> > any Linux platform.
>
> > If the reply is : "YES you can be sure of it !"
>
> > All would be great for me and I would be ready to create a script to
> > detect with a reliable manner the installation dir. et site-packages
> > dir. for all my Linux/Win32 Python apps.
>
> > Thanks for your interest on this topic.
>
> I doubt that you can say such things. You can even manipulate the path
> at runtime.
>
> And I still don't understand WHY you want that? If you want
> site-packages, why don't you loop through the paths until you find it?
>
> Diez

Because the solution using distutils.sysconfig.get_python_lib() is
very smart !
Cheers