[Pythonmac-SIG] Using embedded python programs from DarwinPorts. (original) (raw)

Robert White kranki at mac.com
Mon Nov 29 22:13:09 CET 2004

Excuse me for bringing up the following if it has previously been discussed and I missed it.

Recently, I started using DarwinPorts again to install some programs that I like to have around. However, I noticed that several programs that embed Python force an installation of python 2.3.4 into DarwinPorts for MacOSX 10.3.6 rather than just using the built-in python.

So, in the case of Glom, XChat2 and cvs2svn, I started researching how to change the appropriate autoconf et al files to properly link to or set up in the builtin Python. (Probably, mostly m4 macros) In doing that I contacted two different Port Maintainers asking some very basic questions. One stated that "port" is smart enough to use the builtin-Python Framework and not pull in the unix version which is not my experience. The other stated that "The darwinports policy for both perl and python modules is to only use the darwinports-provided versions of these languages. The reason is that doing something else would require installing files outside of the darwinports prefix (which is /opt/local by default).".

While I find those comments to be justified, I am wondering if it would not be possible to use the builtin version if one were to have their own PYTHONPATH environment variable defined and otherwise pull in a different version. (I am probably wrong, but I think that a PYTHONPATH variable addresses most of the problem especially if it is pointing back into /opt/local somewhere.)

I know that this ultimately must be presented to the DarwinPorts Group, but I know that several on this list are very active there and may indicate to me that this is not a worthwhile investment of my time. So, I wanted to get your opinions first of whether I should pursue this or not and if so, any gotchas that you might be aware of.

More information about the Pythonmac-SIG mailing list