[Python-Dev] Proposing PEP 345 : Metadata for Python Software Packages 1.2

[David Lyon]

Martin,

As an application developer, I really stand with Tarek here.

On Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:07:30 +0100, Tarek Ziadé <ziade.tarek at gmail.com>
wrote:
> 2009/12/23 "Martin v. Löwis" <martin at v.loewis.de>:
>>> I think we want something stronger than that since they were not really
>>> used by
>>> the community and removed and replaced by something better. Using them
>>> should raise a warning so developers abandon them, so it would be
>>> "don't use 1.1 anymore"

Yes. But that is a software warning message to be implemented within
the installation software. The important thing is what is in the
metadata.

> I am just describing the needs and the end user PoV with the reference
> implementation that happens to be used by *all* tools out there.

That's good. That's what we need right now.

> So that will happen in the code of course, but we need the PEP to state
> clearly
> wether metadata 1.0 and 1.1 should be dropped by implementations or not.

+1

>> It would be also incompatible with existing consumers that expect
>> a Python package to have an earlier version of the metadata.
>> Dropping 1.0 may be fine though - but again, this is out of scope
>> here.

That's a software implementation issue. Not a metadata issue.

> I don't understand why you are saying this is out of scope. Shouldn't we
> state clearly in the PEP that 1.0 and 1.1 should not be used in the
future

I agree with you Tarek.

Whilst we can suggest that the implementation be done in certain ways. The
PEP in it's current form seems good enough an I am hoping it will go
through soon.

Three more years of deliberation and niggling on this PEP will have more
of an adverse affect than a positive effect. It was started in 2005 and
that
seems like a long time to hold things up. There's always time for a 1.3
version in two years time if there is an unstoppable problem here - but
I can't see any.

As an application developer, I have to side with Tarek. Lets get this
finalised.

Thank you

David