Re: [Matplotlib-users] Why is pip not mentioned in the Installation Documentation?

[Russell E. O. <ro...@uw...>]

In article <955...@gm...>,
 Ludwig Schwardt 
 <lud...@gm...> wrote:

> Pip works beautifully on the Mac since Lion, once you install pkg-config. 
> This allows matplotlib to pick up the dependencies from the system (i.e. 
> libpng, libfreetype and zlib)....

I had not heard of pkg-config before. It looks very useful.

>...
> [1] For me the only downside of the installer is the use of Python.org Python 
> instead of the default "system" Python, as the latter makes more sense to me 
> for a standard installation (and avoids having multiple Pythons on your 
> system, which is a Good Thing). Python.org Python used to be a mandatory 
> install on older Mac systems such as Tiger / 10.3, but this is no longer a 
> compelling argument for me on newer systems.

Simplicity is nice, and it's a shame there are so many 3rd party 
versions of python now (python.org, Enthought, ActiveState).

Nonetheless, there are some good reasons for avoiding system python, 
including:
- Apple rarely updates system python, so one does not get bug fixes
- If the operating system uses python for anything then it's safest to 
leave it alone

Regards,

-- Russell