[Python-Dev] Deprecate PEP 370 Per user site-packages directory? (original) (raw)

Miro Hrončok mhroncok at redhat.com
Sat Jan 13 14:12:26 EST 2018

On 13.1.2018 18:06, Christian Heimes wrote:

Nowadays Python has venv in the standard library. The user-specific site-packages directory is no longer that useful. I would even say it's causing more trouble than it's worth. For example it's common for system script to use "#!/usr/bin/python3" shebang without -s or -I option.

While I consider venvs easy and cool, this just moves the barrier for the users a little bit higher. We (Fedora Python SIG) are fighting users that run sudo pip install all the time (because the Interwebz are full of such instructions). The users might be willing to listen to "please, don't use pip with sudo, use --user instead". However, if you tell them "learn how to use a venv", they'll just stick with sudo.

I propose to deprecate the feature and remove it in Python 4.0.

We would very much like to see --user the default rather than having it removed.

-- Miro Hrončok

Phone: +420777974800 IRC: mhroncok

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