[Numpy-discussion] [cython-users] Discussion with Guido van Rossum and (hopefully) core python-dev on scientific Python and Python3

[Travis Oliphant]

>> 
>> - The packaging quagmire?  This continues to be a problem, though
>> python3 does have new improvements to distutils.  I'm not really up to
>> speed on the situation, to be frank.  If we want to bring this up,
>> someone will have to provide a solid reference or volunteer to do it
>> in person.
> 
> I will be at pydata, so I can try to get an elevator pitch ready for
> the packaging situation. I may be biased, but I don't think distutils2
> actually improved the situation much  for the scientific community
> (most likely made it worse by having yet one more solution without
> much improvement).
> 
> In particular;
> - commands are still coupled to each other
> - it is still not possible to use an actual build system with
> dependency handling
> - no sensible API (distutils2 cannot be used as a library)

David has explained his system to me several times and I will voice my strong approval for pushing for something built on his system.   

The Python community around distutils2 has no intuition for the needs of extension writers with large libraries supporting  them, and has not been open enough to David's tireless suggestions. 

-Travis