[PYTHON MATRIX-SIG] Data analysis package question

[Konrad Hinsen]

> However, you have to understand clearly that the /worst possible case/
> with PLplot is exactly the /standard/ case with Python and NumPy
> itself.  In particular, PLplot's configure works very hard to
> automatically detect the presence and version number of all the
> supporting libraries the user may have.  X11, Tcl/Tk, Python, and
> others, all fall into this category.  And it is true, I admit, that
> PLplot's configure has, on some systems, had trouble sorting it all
> out.

Well, I prefer to be told to do it by hand rather than have to figure
out from an unclear error message that some program was trying to be
smart and failed. Besides, it wasn't just this kind of problem. PLplot
didn't find one of its own header files, and I even had to modify some
of the source files because they wouldn't get along with the SGI
system headers.

> Note, however, that both Python and NumPy, make absolutely no effort
> whatsoever to "auto detect" this kind of stuff.  For instance, say you
> are building python on a system on which you have already installed
> Tcl/Tk.  Is Tkinter automatically configured?  No.  No attempt
> whatsoever is made to find your Tcl/Tk, and edit your Setup to turn on
> the compilation of the Tkinter module.  You have to do it by hand,

With Python, I follow a series of documented steps and get a working
installation within minutes. With PLplot, it took me two days before
I could run the test examples (of course I didn't work full time on it).
That's the bottom line.

> And that situation, is the worst possible situation with PLplot.  If
> autoconf doesn't do all the magic for you, you get to do it by hand.

Fine, but that ought to be pointed out clearly.

> Anyone who /still/ has major problems with the PLplot autoconf
> situation is respectfully invited to air their grievances on the
> PLplot mailing list, where there are plenty of people who could help
> them with valuable advice.

Well, I'll try the latest version as soon as I find some free minutes...

Konrad.
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Konrad Hinsen                          | E-Mail: hinsen@ibs.ibs.fr
Laboratoire de Dynamique Moleculaire   | Tel.: +33-76.88.99.28
Institut de Biologie Structurale       | Fax:  +33-76.88.54.94
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