[Pythonmac-SIG] What is the future of Python on OSX?

[Bugbee, Larry]

My 2 cents...  

As developers for developers we can do pretty much what we want for the
installation, but if we expect mere mortals to run the stuff we develop, we
need to have an installation that is simple to understand, easy to use, and
complete.  The typical user will not be in a position to understand all the
dependencies, or go through any screwy procedures to get something to work.


I therefore submit the OSX Python installation of GUIs should:

  - have no dependencies.  A single installation should 
    install all that is required beyond that provided by  
    the vendor.  (I know this will be point of contention, 
    but the end user really doesn't care about our problems.)

  - install the same GUI interfaces included in the 
    standard installations of another platforms.  GUI 
    apps should run on OSX just as they would on Linux 
    or Windows.  For now this includes Tkinter.  When 
    wxPython becomes part of the standard install on 
    any platform, it should become standard on all.  

  - properly support the native look and feel.  ...as is 
    the case on all other platforms.  In this case, Aqua.

The dependencies issue is a tough one.  If the installer cannot or does not
install all that is required, the installer should at least alert the user
as to what is missing and give a clue as to what to do.  ...and the answer
should be simple enough for them to understand and do correctly.  

Not to flame anybody, but in the long run I'm not keen on using X on OSX
unless it is supported by Apple.  Likewise, I'm not too keen on installing
Tcl to enjoy Tkinter.  Those may be a luxuries we cannot support today, but
perhaps we should recognize them as goals?  ...and whatever the answer, it
should be the same for all platforms.

At the end of the day, if our end users cannot do a simple install and get
all that is needed to run our Python apps, they won't be running our apps on
OSX.  

It is that simple.

...ahhhh, mebbie 3?  

Larry

> > > What would you like? I'm still very interested in working on Tkinter.
> > Well, as long as you asked:
> >
> > I'd like to see a Python cross-platform GUI solution that does not
> > depend on installing fragments of X-windows on my Mac OS X system.
> >
> > Can Aquatk do that, yet?  Will it ever?
> Not sure about AquaTK, but wxPython already does a pretty decent job of
it!