[Python-ideas] Looking for input to help with the pip situation

[Michel Desmoulin]

Le 13/11/2017 à 19:57, Chris Barker a écrit :
> This has gotten to be a big thread, and it's a pretty intractable
> problem, but I think there are a few fairly small things that could be
> done to at least make it a bit easier:
> 
> 1) Add python2.exe and python3.exe files to the Windows installers -- am
> I insane or did Windows used to have that? I really think it did --
> maybe got removed when py.exe was added.

More than that. Add pythonX.X. You may want to run Python3.5 and not
Python3.6.


>   1a) alternatively, we could add a "py" executable to the standard
> linux builds, so there would be THAT one way to do it. But I think
> that's a "BAD IDEA" -- the whole "py" thing is not widely know or used,
> it's not going to show up in package install instructions for a LONG
> time, (actualy we could do both anyway)

It would work better and be cleaner, but is unlikely to happen. 1) is
simpler and have a chance to happen.



> Then "python2 -m pip install" would work everywhere (only with new
> installations, but at least with newbies, that's a bit more likely ...)
> 
>

Yeah, if 1) happens, we should promote -m for pip.

> 2) Make adding to the PATH in Windows the default. I think there are
> really three user groups:
> 
>    - newbies starting from scratch -- they want it on the PATH
> 
>    - newbies with whatever left over cruft from previous installations
> on their systems -- they want it at the FRONT of their PATH. They
> SHOULD  uninstall all the cruft, but if they don't this will still work
> with as few surprises a possible.
> 
>    - not-newbies with a previous version of python they need to continue
> using. They can uncheck the box, or use py.exe

Agreed. But if an existing python exist in the path, there should be a
warning.

> 
> 
> 3) Make --user be be automatic for pip install. Not actually the
> default, but pip could do a user install if you don't have the
> permissions for a non-user install.

Breaking compat ? Not sure people will accept.

=====

Should I do a PEP with a summary of all the stuff we discussed ?