[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Python only packages and the new Python policy



  Hello all,

  I was reading the last messages to the list and I've noticed that all python
  packages I have are pure python and I that I could install them for all
  python versions (at least for python >=2.3), but if I install the code on
  /usr/lib/site-python/ the code will only work with the current python
  version and the multiple package solution looks an overkill, as some people
  said.

  My proposal for those cases is simple: why don't we remove
  /usr/lib/site-python/ from the python path and link the contents of that
  directory on /usr/lib/pythonX.Y/site-python/ on the postinstall of pure
  python packages that install their code on /usr/lib/site-python/?

  With this system, when a new pythonX.Y package enters the archive it can
  build his own linked version of /usr/lib/site-python/, leaving the compiled
  files on /usr/lib/pythonX.Y/site-python/. The main advantage is that the
  package is available to all installed python versions and supports zero work
  transitions.

  The only problem with this approach is what to do with pure python packages
  known to work only with a range of python interpreters, but we can solve
  that including a file with the package that declares the range of valid
  interpreters.
  
  The good thing about this latter proposal is that is that the system can be
  used also for non pure python packages, putting python code on a package
  that declares no supported version (that is, declares a null range of
  interpreters) and puts the version dependent code on another package that
  adds the given python version to the list of valid interpreters, generates
  the links and recompiles the python files.

  Of course all that should be elaborated and formalized a little bit to enter
  into the Policy document, but I would like to know what do others thing
  about it and know what other solutions or changes have been proposed for the
  next version of the policy, if any.

  Greetings,

    Sergio.

-- 
Sergio Talens-Oliag <sto@debian.org>   <http://people.debian.org/~sto/>
Key fingerprint = 29DF 544F  1BD9 548C  8F15 86EF  6770 052B  B8C1 FA69

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: Digital signature


Reply to: