[Python-Dev] Fwd: PEP 426 is now the draft spec for distribution metadata 2.0

[Paul Moore]

On 20 February 2013 00:54, Fred Drake <fred at fdrake.net> wrote:
> I'd posit that anything successful will no longer need to be added to
> the standard library, to boot.  Packaging hasn't done well there.

distlib may be the exception, though. Packaging tools are somewhat
unique because of the chicken and egg issue involved in having a
packaging tool with external dependencies - who installs your
dependencies for you? So enabling technology (library code to perform
packaging-related tasks, particularly in support of standardised
formats) could be better available from the stdlib.

> I'd rather see a successful packaging story develop than bundle it into the
> standard library.  The later just isn't that interesting any more.

Bundling too early is a bad idea though. distlib is developing fast
and to do so it needs (1) a development cycle independent of python's
and (2) compatibility and ease of use with earlier versions of Python
(the latter is also critical for adoption in place of custom code in
packaging tools).

Aiming for an accelerated level of development targeting inclusion in
Python 3.4 is plausible, though. MAL pointed out that agreeing
standards but not offering tools to support them in the stdlib is
risky, as people have no incentive to adopt those standards. We've got
6 months or more until 3.4 feature freeze, let's not make any decision
too soon, though.

Paul.