Re: [matplotlib-devel] How to decouple non-GUI stuff from the GUI?

[Kynn J. <ky...@gm...>]

On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 5:57 PM, Benjamin Root <ben...@ou...> wrote:

> I think we are more asking what tutorials have you read to help install
> matplotlib (some are better than others)


This was about 6 weeks ago, and I no longer remember the details.  I do
remember I read *a lot* of advice on installing matplotlib (and scipy,
ipython, etc.), not always consistent.


> In addition, what version of MacOS X are you using and if you are using the
> built-in python interpreater or installed your own?


I'm using 64-bit Snow Leopard.  My python is /usr/bin/python, which came
with the Snow Leopard installation.


> Did you try the DMG file, or from macports, or from pypi?
>

Don't recall what I finally ended up with, but I do know that I had to
completely scrap the macports install, because my macports got totally
wedged (circular dependencies, etc.).  I had to uninstall *all* my macports,
and reinstall them from scratch.  On this re-install I did not install any
Python ports, although python2.6 and a few other python ports were pulled in
as dependencies of other ports.  Still, even though I have
/opt/local/bin/python2.6, I don't use it.

What we really need is improved documentation for the mac install process.
>

I beg to differ: what we need is a single *official* download and
installation procedure.  Of course, this in turn requires a similarly
unitary-no-two-ways-about-it download and installation procedure for
everything else that matplotlib depends on, directly or indirectly.  Without
this, adequate documentation becomes impossible, because there's no way that
the writers of the documentation can possibly test the combinatorial
explosion of possibilities.

It's bad enough that we have to deal with multiple OSs and architectures.
 We don't need to pile 31 installation flavors on top of that.

(What really boggles the mind is that of all languages out there it is
Python that finds itself in this unholy mess, while wild-eyed TIMTOWTDI Perl
hums along with CPAN.  I can count with the fingers of one hand (and have a
few left over) the number of Perl packages that I use that were not
downloaded from CPAN.  In contrast, tons of my Python modules come from
random places: SourceForge, Google Code, github, individual authors'
websites, you name it.  How is this possible?  Whatever happened to Python's
"There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it"???)

So, let's start from the beginning and we can help you though.


Your patience puts me to shame.  Thank you for the offer.  I suppose that I
should first clean the slate, and re-install everything?  Is there clean way
to do this?

~kj