[Distutils] packaging terminology confusion

[John Gabriele]

On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 7:03 AM, Tarek Ziadé <ziade.tarek at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 12:48 PM, Eric Smith <eric at trueblade.com> wrote:
> [..]
>>
>> We should use the terminology as defined in
>> http://docs.python.org/distutils/introduction.html#distutils-specific-terminology
>>
>> So technically it's a "module distribution" we're talking about.
>
> Well, I wonder if we shouln't use the term "distribution" instead
> here. the "module" word is quite fuzzy to describe a distribution that
> might contain modules, data files, and/or packages.

I agree, since you can make a distribution with nothing in it but
scripts (no modules or packages). Nice way to distribute "python
programs" too, IMO.

Incidentally, the Perl folk technically refer to the things they
upload to the CPAN as "distributions" as well. Though, they often call
them "modules" in casual conversation/writing ... possibly because
it's 2 syllables shorter and/or easier to type. :)

The only inconsistency, I think, is that operating systems like Debian
refer to their software distributions as "packages" (as in, a packaged
up piece of software that you can download and install). "Packages" is
a great name for them -- too bad it's already being used in Python.

---John