Re: [Visualpython-users] re: Distributiion

[<art...@rs...>]

>I think Bruce & co. are doing a great job.  It is indeed difficult to
>install on anything other than systems just like the developers have, but
>it's getting a lot better a lot faster.

Definitely not easy.  My original post was in its own way an offer to
pitch in as I could.  If Bruce & co want to focus their approach on the
needs of their immediate audience of physics students - I was offering to
help
devise/maintain a distribution approach more appropriate to a general
audience. The larger and broader the VPython user base, probably the
better for all of us who have an interest in it.

>Speaking from long experience, I can attest that managing a free software
>program is a *lot* of work.  Managing it in coordination with other
>rapidly-changing free software[*] is a lot more work squared.  The more we
>other users can help out with advice for fellow users and with patches,
>the more time the developers can spend on the core visual module.

Again , the broader and more active the the user base - the better off we
all are.

And an important  reward for  undertaking a free software effort is the
recognition of one's efforts from
others who use it and incorporate it into their own work.

Which is why - as a matter of principle - I push the Numeric issue.

When no one is asking for money, there is no reason anyone should be
shortchanged.

Not implying that we are talking about anything more than an unintentional
oversight - which is easy
enough to happen in the heat of battle.  But do you agree that it is only
appropriate to put Numeric up on
the 'VPython includes' marquee?

Art