[Python-Dev] How we can get rid of eggs for 2.6 and beyond

[Phillip J. Eby]

At 04:29 PM 3/22/2008 +0100, Martin v. Löwis wrote:
>>>For those without the read-only flag, the specification should
>>>explicitly say what manipulation is allowed.
>>Since a distribution isn't really "mutable", I would think that 
>>uninstallation and reinstallation would be the only manipulation 
>>available.  (As distinct from inspection, verification, and other 
>>read-only activities.)
>
>Sure, but what is precisely the semantics of uninstallation, in
>terms of changes to the system state?
>
>I think any model where uninstallation is merely the removal
>of files is too limited to be practical.

The distutils only support the *addition* of files, so I'm not sure 
how only removing files is a limit here.  Could you explain?