[Python-Dev] VC++ 2008 Express Edition now locked away? (original) (raw)

Chris Angelico rosuav at gmail.com
Wed Mar 6 17:55:40 CET 2013

On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 3:46 AM, Stefan Behnel <stefan_ml at behnel.de> wrote:

Chris Angelico, 06.03.2013 17:30:

On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:40 AM, Ezio Melotti wrote:

I did try a few weeks ago, when I had to download a copy of Windows for a project. Long story short, after 30+ minutes and a number of confirmation emails I reached a point where I had a couple of new accounts on MSDN/Dreamspark, a "purchased" free copy of Windows in my e-cart, and some .exe I had to download in order to download and verify the purchased copy. That's where I gave up.

That's the point where I'd start looking at peer-to-peer downloads. These sorts of things are often available on torrent sites; once the original publisher starts making life harder, third-party sources become more attractive. May I express my doubts that the license allows a redistribution of the software in this form?

Someone would have to check, but in most cases, software licenses govern the use, more than the distribution. If you're allowed to download it free of charge from microsoft.com, you should be able to get hold of it in some other way and it be exactly the same. But yeah, if you want to be legal you'd have to actually read the EULA.

Is there any plan for future Python versions to use a free compiler on Windows? That would eliminate this issue, but presumably would create others.

ChrisA

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