[Python-Dev] [PEPs] Support the /usr/bin/python2 symlink upstream

[Mark Hammond]

On 5/03/2011 8:21 AM, "Martin v. Löwis" wrote:
...
> As for Windows support: we currently don't install a python3.exe binary,
> let alone python2.exe or pythonw2.exe (or is that python2w.exe?). I'll
> adjust the installer if the PEP asks me to. For the reasons discussed,
> I'm -0 on the change (i.e. double-clicking .py will continue to launch
> the most-recently installed Python, rather than the "right" one, and
> setting PYTHONPATH will continue to break installations).

I agree with the -0 - I simply don't think it will, in practice, make 
anyone's life much easier.  To run python2 and python3 based scripts in 
the same environment already requires some manual work by the machine 
owner (both directories will need to be added to the path) so the 
additional burden of some other steps (eg, .bat files, doskey alaises 
etc) doesn't seem that great.  There is also a small risk of confusion - 
people may believe python.exe and python2.exe/python3.exe have different 
purposes and be confused about when to use which.

I think this discussion should be divorced from this PEP and taken up 
with the discussion about the PATH and the "last installed wins" issue 
Martin mentions - only all of them taken together will "fix" this issue 
- not that I personally consider it particularly broken - more like 
"sub-optimal" :)

Cheers,

Mark