Python on MacOS X 10.2: a warning and instructions

[Russell E. Owen]

MacOS X 10.2 (Jaguar) breaks the fink installation of Python (due to 
moving the ncurses package).

MacOS X 10.2 does include Python (at least if you install the 
Developer's CD, not sure otherwise) but it has no readlines support 
(i.e. no command recall) and no Tkinter support.

I upgraded before I realized this, and needed python too much to wait 
for the fink binary, so I spent a day and a half figuring out how to do 
the installation (with help from the MacPython list). Instructions are 
at <http://arcserve.astro.washington.edu/InstallingPythonOnJaguar.html> 
if you are unfortunate enough to need them.

These instructions install a version that uses xfree86 (an X server) to 
display windows. However, a release version of the native aqua version 
of tcl/tk now exists (version 8.4.0) but so far the only binary 
installer is for 8.4a4, an older version. The source installer comes 
with no instructions and what I tried failed. If anybody gets Python 
with Tkinter to worth with the aqua version of tcl/tk 8.4.0 under MacOS 
10.2, I would love instructions.

-- Russell