[Python-Dev] vendor-packages directory

[Rich Burridge]

Phillip J. Eby wrote:
>> Recently I asked about the inclusion of a "vendor-packages"
>> directory for Python on the Python mailing list.
>>
>> See the thread started at:
>>
>>    
>> http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/2005-September/300029.html
>>
>> for the full reasoning behind this request, and the replies
>> I received.
> 
> 
> I'm with Terry on this, it needs a better rationale.  Why can't you just 
> add a .pth file to the site-packages directory?  It seems that would 
> address the issue nicely.
> 
> (See http://docs.python.org/lib/module-site.html for documentation of 
> the .pth mechanism, which would let you implement a separate 
> vendor-packages directory without modifying Python, and would still 
> allow local overrides of your vendor packages.)

I understand how .pth files work.

The rationale for requesting the "vendor-packages" approach, is that Python files,
as supplied by the vendor (Sun, Apple, RedHat ...)  with their operating system
software, should go in a totally separate base directory, to differentiate them
from Python files installed specifically at one site.