[Python-Dev] Re: Patch level versions and new features (Was: Some dull gc stats)

[Barry A. Warsaw]

>>>>> "MAL" == M  <mal@lemburg.com> writes:

    MAL> True, but it is easily possible to install those packages in
    MAL> a directory which is scanned before the standard lib, thus
    MAL> overriding the distribution versions:

    MAL> python setup.py install install-lib=~/lib

A general solution that requires uses to set environment variables
isn't acceptable IMO.

    >> I believe that was the motivation for Barry to consider
    >> backporting large amounts of changes. The same holds for
    >> distutils, except that there aren't that many major changes.

    MAL> If that's the case, then we probably ought to make it easier
    MAL> for user installed Python add-ons to override builtin
    MAL> packages.

+1

    MAL> This would help to get rid off the hacks which the PyXML
    MAL> distribution has to use in order to achieve the same.

Yup, see my previous response.
-Barry