[Numpy-discussion] Which Python to Use on OSX, Was: 1.1.0 OSX Installer Fails Under 10.5.3?

[Vincent Noel]

On Wed, Jun 4, 2008 at 6:36 PM, Christopher Barker
<Chris.Barker at noaa.gov> wrote:
>  >> The best thing is that the system
>>> wxPython is used, when it can be a PITA to setup correctly through
>>> other ways.
>
> huh? The installer provided at the wxPython pages has always worked
> flawlessly for me (for the python.org build) -- what could be easier?

Not installing anything is easier :-)
More seriously though, today I understand how things are supposed to work
and the distinction between the pythons in /System/Library/ and /Library,
but it took me a while to figure it out, and during the process I ended up
with lots of things installed in weird places (I still have some stuff in
/Library/Python that I'm not sure what is for) and not being recognized
(since I was not sure which Python to use). My remark came from these
bad memories (including a few times recompiling wxPython),
I apologize if things usually go smoothly.

I guess it's just another way to say it might be good, as you suggest,
to standardize on a single
specific distribution, I guess. It would limit the confusion.

Out of curiosity, what is the difference between python.org's python
and macpython's ?
I couldn't find a clear explanation. Is there any reason to use
macpython's package instead
of python.org's ?

Cheers
Vincent