[Python-Dev] BDFL delegation for PEP 426 (PyPI metadata 1.3)

[Chris Withers]

On 03/02/2013 13:27, Tres Seaver wrote:
>> As for setuptools (as opposed to distribute), I don't think we should
>> care anymore.
>
> Yes, you need to care.  It is *still* true today that distribute and
> setuptools remain largely interchangeable, which is the only thing that
> makes distribute viable, in the ecosystem sense.

+ sys.maxint.

I was very unpopular with the attitude I took to distribute when it 
arrived, including it's poor choice of name ;-)

Now, I know my tone was bad, but we are where I feared we're be, to 
paraphrase Ned Batchelder's "two problems" job page: I had a problem 
with setuptools, so I thought I'd create distribute, now I have two 
problems...

I'm excited by wheel and I still have vague hopes that one day the 
stdlib might be a collection of packages shipped as a "big distribution" 
for those who need it and separately upgradeable for the rest of us...

...but let's make sure we keep caring about the tools that people really 
use, which includes both setuptools and distribute.

...or deliberately break them both, at the same time as we fix the 
security issues, and provide a workable alternative. People will quickly 
migrate ;-)

cheers,

Chris

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