[Python-Dev] Configure option to change Python's name?

[Bob Ippolito]

On Jan 21, 2004, at 11:08 AM, Jack Jansen wrote:

> This idea is only half-baked, so please fire away, or tell me to go 
> ahead, or go hide under a stone.
>
> I would like a configure option that changes the name of "python" 
> everywhere: in the executable, in the dynamic library name, the MacOSX 
> framework name, etc. This would allow you to have two Pythons on a 
> system that are completely 100% independent of each other.
>
> The idea was triggered by Michael Hudson, who wanted to install a 
> debugging-enabled framework build of Python on MacOSX, which shouldn't 
> interfere with the normal Python (either Apple-installed or 
> user-installed). It turns out this is doable through meticulous 
> hacking of the Makefile after configure (and, for now, ignoring the 
> few hardcoded "Python.framework" references in Lib, but those need 
> fixing anyway). For other unix systems a similar approach would work 
> to isolate a debug-python from the normal production python.
>
> But then I thought of another use: this would allow you to have a 
> MacPython 2.3.3 distribution as well as the Apple-installed 2.3 
> distribution without any interference possible. And there are probably 
> similar uses on other platforms.

I'm +100000 on this; it's good for MacPython, python-dev'ers, and it 
would also help forks like stackless.

-bob