Re: [Visualpython-users] History and Status?

[Arthur <ajs...@op...>]

[Bruce]
> Since so far Arthur is the
> only person who has complained about this, I haven't been able to make
this
> a priority, as it does involve extra work. Until very recently there has
not
> been sufficient people power to address issues such as this, but I
certainly
> don't rule out providing more installation options in the future.

If there is to be an open source community approach, then there has to be
some sense of openness to community based decision making.  I am willing to
undertake responsility for creating and maintaining a distutils
installation - source and binary, Windows and Linux - for VPython as a stand
alone distribution.  The fact is that I am so unhappy about the current
distribution, that I was pursuing this in any case, and was going to make it
available for PyGeo users. Though I would much prefer to have it on the
VPython site.  And I have no objection to offering PyGeo users the
"all-in-one" distribution that you prefer for the strudents you focus on as
your prime concern.  Though there would have to be some coordination to
assure that the distributions are consistent -  in terms of where files are
place,d for example.  I  have a sense of what I would call general
expectations within the community of Python users of how a third party
module should install (and uninstall).  It is important to me that those
expectations are met. Because I think that the general community of active
Python users is an important audience for VPython.

So I can help you solve the manpower issue as to the distribution, but only
assuming "we" - and I think the we here goes beyond Bruce and myuself -  can
agree as to what is and is not appropriate in terms of how the distribution
behaves.

But let me say directly, I have problems with your wording above. On one
hand we are talking about a more community based approach to VPython and its
future, on the other hand you are talking about what *you* are willing to
rule in or out. Without a clear idea of what your criteria might be.

If your own focus is narrowly on the constituency of physics students, and
you understand their needs quite well, is it possible that someone like
myself who has an idea that VPython could and should have a broader focus,
go his own way with it.  In other words, offer my own distribution - and
essentially fork VPython.

It seems to me that should be totally unnecessary and unfortunate.  But I
also shouldn't need to send you reports of issues as to the current
distribution by certified mail.  I submit you don't see the issues because
you have a narrow focus on a particular constituency.  Looking at it from
the prespective of a broader constituency, ths issues I rasie are quite
obvious.  There is no good reason why all constinuencies needs cannot be
addressed at www.vpython.org.  But it is difficult to work cooperatively if
you seem to think other people  judgment on these matters cannot be relied
upon.


Art