[Distutils] Problem with distribute and converting tests for python3

[Michael Whapples]

OK, I didn't realise the .py files are included in a binary 
distribution, I understood it to be that the .pyc file was enough and so 
had followed through that the .py file wouldn't be included in a binary 
distribution like it is typically done in java (java tends not to 
include the .java source files in a binary .jar file, only the .class 
files). I did warn you that I may be making some assumptions/hold views 
due to my java programming. This leads to some more general questions 
about python and distributing modules (eg. why do we need binary 
distributions (bdist_egg, bdist, etc) when a source distribution should 
be fine and do all needed, why does python distribute source and 
compiled files in a binary distribution (what does the source files add 
in such a case), etc).

Anyway back to the actual topic. My main question of the possible 
solution is, why can't we have a way of specifying extra directories to 
run 2to3 on? Tests are an example (well at least the way I view tests) 
of when this could be useful, it may be useful in other cases (not 
thought of an example).

Michael Whapples
On 12/10/09 18:16, Lennart Regebro wrote:
> 2009/10/12 Michael Whapples<mwhapples at aim.com>:
>    
>> In that case I would ask them to download the source distribution and run
>> the tests there, they probably will want the source distribution as I may
>> need to ask them to apply a patch and test it out (they have the environment
>> I didn't foresee/have).
>>      
> Well, that's one step extra, but fine.
>
>    
>> I question how unit tests in a binary package are like a sort of
>> documentation as the user will not be able to see the test source code as it
>> will all be in .pyc files.
>>      
> A binary distribution will include the .py files as well. "Binary" is
> different from "source" in that extensions are already compiled. You
> don't need to make binary distributions for anything else than
> Windows, and then only if you have C-extensions. Modules without
> c-extensions are best distributed as a source distribution.
>
>    
>>> The problem is that these files doesn't end up in the binary
>>> distribution and hence 2to3 can't be run on them.
>>>        
>    
>> Bad wording on my part, I said compile when I meant convert, so point two
>> should be "As distribute will include test/test*.py, why can't distribute
>> run 2to3 on these files and so convert my tests and so then be able to run
>> tests from the test command". This probably would need distribute to create
>> a separate directory (eg. test_3k) and then run tests from the new location
>> to achieve this.
>>      
> No, that wasn't bad wording on your part, I understood perfectly, I
> think. The problem is that these files doesn't end up in the binary
> distribution and hence 2to3 isn't run on them as the 2to3 conversion
> is done in build_py.
>
>