[Numpy-discussion] arrayobject.h (and friends) install location

[konrad.hinsen at laposte.net]

On 17.01.2006, at 18:29, Andrew Straw wrote:

> Also, as for as I know, the only packages that install things into
> /usr/include/python2.x/packagename are Numeric and numarray, so I  
> would
> argue it's not "standard", (although it may have lots of history).

Two of my own packages, ScientificPython and MMTK, do the same, so  
that's already four. In fact, I don't know any package that puts its  
include files elsewhere. Most packages have no include files at all  
of course.

Another argument for this being the "standard" location is that it is  
in the include file search path when Python modules are built using  
distutils, and the path where Distutils puts them.. Yet another  
argument is that it's about the only location where include files can  
be placed without any necessity for client packages to know the  
habits of each of its dependencies.


On 18.01.2006, at 02:18, Christopher Barker wrote:

> As a Linux+OS-X user, I've run into a number of these Apple "Think  
> Different" issues, but I don't think creating an ugly, non-standard  
> system to accommodate the fact that Apple like to do things  
> strangely is the right solution. Apple doesn't maintain their  
> python distribution well, or really play well with the python  
> community, so many of us end up installing a new Python anyway.

There isn't much difference between MacOS X and Linux: on both  
systems you need superuser rights to write to /usr/include.


On 18.01.2006, at 03:22, Travis Oliphant wrote:

> This is the important point in this discussion.   There was a  
> reason it was changed.  I remember opposing the change,  
> originally.  However, it solved a real problem and only required  
> people to give up their arbitrary notions of where include files  
> *should* be.  I don't see this as a real issue since you can get  
> where the include files are very easily.

It's hardly arbitrary - see above. And I don't think anyone cares  
where include files are, as long as installing them via distutils  
will put them somewhere where another package installation using  
distutils will find them.

> With that, however, I think it would be helpful for one of those  
> people who use .eggs to clarify why it solves their problem to have  
> the include files in their current location.

Also what their problem exactly is - I don't remember seeing a  
description on this list. Perhaps we can come up with a different  
solution.

Konrad.
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Konrad Hinsen
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