Message 73659 - Python tracker (original) (raw)

Okay, per MAL's request over on #3937, I tried platform.get_linux_distribution() on the current svn trunk (which I assume is the version that is about to become python 2.6). It gave the same not-so-great answer as platform.dist() used to: ('debian', 'lenny/sid', ''). I then ported my patch to trunk (attached), and it gave the answer I wanted: ('Ubuntu', '8.04', 'hardy').

Note that technique of parsing /etc/lsb-release or invoking lsb_release is more standard and generic and easier to maintain than the current technique of trying a series of specific file parses for specific "supported" distributions. For example, if some new Linux distribution is invented, or if this is tried on a distribution that isn't in the supported list (has anyone tried this on Foresight Linux yet?), then my technique has a good chance of working on that distribution, where the current technique has a higher chance of accidentally mis-identifying it as some other distribution, for example the way that the current trunk mis-identifies Ubuntu 8.04 as Debian lenny/sid.