On 10/04/2008, Stanley A. Klein <sklein@cpcug.org> wrote:
In summary, Python is being used on systems that have very different underlying OS use cases. To some extent, the natural use case for Python is closest to that of Linux/Unix. Running Python on Windows/Mac requires adapting for those platforms some of the kinds of tools that simplify operations on Linux/Unix systems. This discussion is essentially about how far that goes, how to accomplish it, and how to remain compatible with the existing tools on Linux/Unix.
Thanks, that's a good summary. I would dispute your comment that "the natural use case for Python is closest to that of Linux/Unix", however. I think Python is perfectly adaptable to both environments, and from *my* point of view, the issue is that Python is currently well adapted to a Windows environment. It seems that the Unix/Linux users find it less well adapted, and need changes as a result - but in doing so, their changes are disrupting the Windows situation. However, this is from the POV of a Windows developer, who has no sysadmin experience on Windows, and little experience with Unix. So it's certainly biased. But from where I sit, there's no Windows issue to solve, and while I'm happy for the Unix people to address the problems they have, I'd be unhappy if in doing so they *make* problems for Windows. A windows sysadmin may have a different perspective, though. Paul.