Re: [Visualpython-users] History and Status?

[Gary P. <pa...@in...>]

Here's two bits from a user.  I think Arthur is absolutely correct (that's
not to say that Bruce is not listening and being open minded).  Uniform
packaging has great value.  When I first installed visual I was a little
apprehensive that I might have some sort of conflict with Numeric.  Nothing
happened, everything works ok, but I had a concern.  I point out that the
current installation of visual already requires a two-step process by the
physics student.  One for python, one for visual.
Without knowing the implications: maybe two packages, a "turn key" package
and a conventional package would meet both needs.

I volunteer to help. My value may be limited: I'm a user, not a developer,
and I don't know C.  But I'll do what I can.
[note to Arthur:  my previous offer still stands]

-Gary


----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur" <ajs...@op...>
To: "Bruce Sherwood" <bas...@un...>; "John Keck"
<joh...@ho...>; <vis...@li...>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Visualpython-users] History and Status?


> [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
>
>
>
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