[Python-Dev] [Pydotorg] Should we help pythonmac.org?

[Bill Janssen]

> > My understanding is that if there is a system Python, you shouldn't  
> > change it.  Ever.
> 
> Huge, big, honkin' +1 from me on that.  Besides, for a system Python,  
> you want your distribution to manage packages, not setuptools,  
> otherwise you confuse -- and probably break -- your system.

I find this discussion fascinating.  I install new packages into my
system Python all the time, with "/usr/bin/python setup.py install",
and that includes setuptools.  I've got PIL, ReportLab, Twisted, Xlib,
appscript, docutils, email-4.0.1, fuse, PyLucene, medusa, mutagen,
roman, setuptools, and SSL installed in the Leopard machine I'm
writing from.  They don't wind up in
/System/Library/.../site-packages/, they wind up in
/Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/, which is sort of the right place,
from an Apple point of view.  I do this on lots of Macs -- I've got a
regular posse of them at work.  And I've never had any problems with
it.

I agree that there are some things I'd be very wary of installing into
the system Python, like PyObjC, and Zope.  Usually, I don't install
anything which appears to already be there.

Bill