Message 141162 - Python tracker (original) (raw)

Windows file associations are so disfunctional that you should not depend on them being anything in particular.

Ah. Do you think I should revert the change I did for distutils docs to recommend running “setup.py spam”? I followed the opinion of the original poster (first message).

'python -m module' (which looks for module under /Lib). Not only under Lib, but along sys.path.

In XP, and I presume later, the term 'DOS box' is obsolete and I would delete it. The 'Command Prompt' app (with caps) is found in the Start/Accessories directory. So I would say "open a Command Prompt window (in Start/Accessories)" Thanks, I will change this term. I won’t put the menu path however, it could change in any version.

I am not sure of the difference between 'local script' and 'global command'. Chris replied to that: local script is setup.py in a directory you probably just got from unzipping a file downloaded from PyPI, global command is pysetup3, installed alongside idle3, pydoc3 and others.

In order to run pysetup commands, you need to add the Python Scripts directory to your PATH include link to relevant section of docs.python.org/using. I do not understand your proposed note, especially "include link to relevant section of docs.python.org/using.". The docs instruct to run pysetup commands, like “pysetup list” or “pysetup install Sphinx”. On UNIX, the script will be available after install just like pydoc or idle. On Windows, I don’t know. The goal of my note was to tell people to add the Scripts directory to their PATH, so that they can run “pysetup list” and co.

The insert part meant: At this place I will put a link to the “Using Python on...” docs, i.e. http://docs.python.org/using/windows#configuring-python (which explain how to edit PATH).

(Saying pysetup vs. pysetup3 is another unrelated doc bug.)

Script run without extensions when run with an explicit python command. Like “python.exe setup” when the file really is setup.py? I’d never have guessed that.

I am not sure what 'or does the installer add .py?' could mean. Do the Windows installers for CPython found on python.org install idle, pydoc and other scripts as “pydoc” or “pydoc.py”?

I realize that my answers may appear naive. I hope usefully so. They’re very useful.

I have used Windows since Win95 and have learned to focus, as described above, on what dependably works with minimal surprise. This is a very useful standpoint.

I have never used setup.py so no expert advice on its successor from me. It’s okay, I added you because you can comment on how scripts and programs work, and review my English.