[Pythonmac-SIG] a beginner's list

[Chris Porter]

> Chris Porter wrote:
> > And here, Mac comes with Python! Very nice.
> > That shouldn't be downplayed. All I needed was the Python that was already 
> > installed, plus a couple added things. (I needed Python to talk to MySQL, and
> > that I had to install MySQL, so there was likely no native ability to do so on
> > the Mac I've got.)
> 
> This is my point. You couldn't actually get anything done without 
> downloading and installing _something_. Once you're doing that, it would 
> have made very little difference if you had downloaded and installed a 
> new version of Python as well.
> 
> However, what would have made a difference is whether or not a package 
> for the MySQL lib were easily available or not. That's why whatever the 
> MacPython community endorses and documents should be a version with as 
> broad package support as possible. I think that's 2.4.*, rather than the 
>   Apple supplied python.
> 
> In addition, if you have your code running just fine and dandy under 
> Apple's python, then you upgrade to 10.5, chances are that your app will 
> no longer work, as Apple is likely to yank their python out from under 
> you. If it were running with a user-installed Python, chances are it 
> would keep working.

That's something the page should shout to the world about!
(because I had no idea about this)

"The advantages of not using Apple's versions!"