[Distutils] Name the software! Package quality tester.

[Jim Fulton]

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Greg Ewing <greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz> wrote:
> Jim Fulton wrote:
>
>> I question whether that distinction is important, but if and when it
>> is, then we could use an adjective to clarify.  Under the hood, the
>> object we call packages today are just modules.
>
> I think the fact that we used the word "package" in the
> first place testifies that it *is* important -- otherwise
> we wouldn't have invented the term.

We invented the term long before distutils was invented and without
much, of any, consideration for software distribution.  Just because
we've historiaclly uses a term, doesn't mean it's a good term.

> The word "package" covers much more than just the module
> object that comes into being when you import it. It also
> implies the associated directory structure, extra import
> facilities and mechanisms, etc. It's not just a minor
> variation on the concept of a module.

I agree to disagree. :)

Jim

--
Jim Fulton
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jimfulton