[Python-Dev] Python install layout and the PATH on win32 (Rationale part 1: Regularizing the layout)

[PJ Eby]

On Mar 23, 2012 4:19 PM, "VanL" <van.lindberg at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Three notes. FIrst, distutils.cfg doesn't always work because it is
centered around the idea of set paths that are the same each time - which
doesn't always work with virtualenvs.

And the virtualenv doesn't contain its own copy of distutils.cfg?

> Second, most installer tools don't follow distutils.cfg. Even if that
helps for python setup.py install, the other tools are still broken when
you want to specify a layout.

So, we should change Python to fix the broken tools that don't follow
documented standards for configuring installation locations?

If the tools are that broken, aren't they going to break even *harder* when
you change the paths for Windows?

> And fourth, (because nobody expects the spanish inquisition), isn't the
gratuitous difference a (small but) obvious wart?

It's hardly the only wart we keep around for backwards compatibility.  If
it's going to change, it needs a proper transition period at the least.
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