[Pythonmac-SIG] Fink, DarwinPorts vs py2app

[Bob Ippolito]

On Feb 8, 2005, at 12:57, Chris Barker wrote:

> Bob Ippolito wrote:
>>> On 8-feb-05, at 15:51, Brendan Simons wrote:
>>>
>>>> My question:  can I use py2app to build a
>>>> redistributable app that's statically linked to either
>>>> package manager's libraries?  Or do I have to install
>>>> Fink/DarwinPorts on each of my clients' machines?
>
> If you are distributing a single substantial application, py2app is 
> probably the way to go. However, if you are distributing a set of 
> apps, you may not want each one to have a complete copy of everything, 
> so...

Eh, you probably want them to for everything but the most controlled 
environments.  Bandwidth and disk space is cheaper than support 
hassles.

>>>> (I would like to develop an app that uses numeric,
>>>> scientific python, wxPython, and matplotlib, which are
>>>> all somewhat difficult to install by hand, but are all
>>>> readily available via Fink or DarwinPorts)
>
> The Fink and Darwinports versions of these will give you X11 versions 
> (particularly wxPython), which you may not want (Someone please 
> correct me if I'm wrong). In fact, if you use fink, you may get it all 
> working with the fink Python. Will py2app bundle a fink python app? 
> And as Bob pointed out, fink, at least, will give you a bunch if libs 
> that duplicate ones that are included with a stock OS-X

py2app is compatible and tested with darwinports, which means that it 
should also work with Fink, unless they screwed something up :)

> As to the "difficult to install":
>
> Numeric is easy, with either setup.py build (once it's fixed...argg!), 
> or even easier, with the mpgk that Bob put out.
>
> matplotlib is now easy, thanks to the mpkg that I just put together 
> (only works with Agg and wxPython at the moment, though poorly tested 
> with wxPython. I'm planning on making a GTK and TK compatible version 
> soon, anyone want to help?). Bob, if you're reading this, could post 
> the link?
>
> SciPy is probably a pain in the $^%^&. I haven't tried it recently. 
> However, my goal is to make an nice OS-X package of this as well. I'm 
> looking for folks to help with that.
>
> My impression of fink (and darwinports may be different, I'll be 
> checking that out) is that it's kind of an all-or-nothing proposition. 
> If you want a Linux-like system, running in parallel to OS-X, on the 
> same kernel, you'll be quite happy. If you want it to feel like it's 
> part of OS-X you won't. Being a Linux geek, you'd think I'd be happy 
> with the former, but frankly, If I want Linux,. I'll run Linux (and I 
> do). On OS-X I want OS-X, and, more importantly, folks I work with, 
> that I give apps too, don't want to have anything to do with Linux, 
> command lines, X11, or figuring out apt-get.

Darwinports is a lot less all-or-nothing.  I have very few things 
activated from darwinports at a given time and it works and 
interoperates with the rest of the stuff I have rather well.

> I really think we can get a complete set of OS-X friendly packages out 
> for all to use. it's really not all that hard, once you've got the 
> tricks figured out. We'll have a MUCH easier time getting folks to use 
> python on OS-X if we have nice friendly binaries for them to install.

I agree.

> By the way, what is the status of Package Manger, and the two 
> repositories (Jack's and Bob's) Are they being maintained? should I 
> submit matplotlib to them?

Mine is not.  I'm going to toss it in favor of a mpkg and/or egg based 
solution when one is ready.

> If anyone want to help with my SciPy on OS-X project, please let me 
> know. There is some real momentum in the NumPy/SciPy crowd to make 
> SciPy easier to install right now.

Well, if it will build, bdist_mpkg will package it..

-bob