Re: [Visualpython-users] new files

[Bruce S. <bas...@un...>]

Since we have found that even college students majoring in engineering or
science sometimes install only Python or only Visual and then wonder why
nothing works, it does seem like a good idea to make a single installer
aimed at novices that includes minimal Python plus Visual plus an editor
(Idle_VPython or ScITE).

There are some political and practical issues.

Would the Python people be uncomfortable/unhappy if we made such a bundled
thing, containing a stripped-down Python, or even a full Python? Right now
there isn't even a copy of Python at vpython.org, just a link to a file
housed at python.org. That link gets you an official Python, complete with
libraries, etc. (and documentation in the Windows case).

A practical issue is that the download traffic from vpython.org would
increase significantly due to the much larger installer containing Python.
This isn't necessarily terrible but I should opt for a higher download limit
from that site. (Recently traffic has grown to where some increase is going
to be needed in any case.)

It would be important for vpython.org to be very clear in its instructions,
something along the lines of "If you don't have Python, install this bundle.
If you already have Python, here's an add-on package."

Bruce Sherwood

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur" <ajs...@op...>
To: "Bruce Sherwood" <bas...@un...>; "vpusers"
<vis...@li...>
Cc: "Jonathan Brandmeyer" <jdb...@un...>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 1:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Visualpython-users] new files


> > The new Windows installer puts all the Visual machinery in
> > PythonXX\Lib\site-packages\visual, including the Visual module, demos,
> > documentation, and IDLE for VPython.
> >
> > This Windows installer no longer tampers with PythonXX\Doc. It does
> > overwrite any existing Numeric module with the latest Numeric 23.0 (and
> this
> > is noted on the Windows download page).
>
> All very good news.
>
> My issues with the Windows distribution is narrowed to one.  The fact that
> anyone with a prior existing Numeric installation will lose it if they
> choose to uninstall VPython. Not earth-shattering.
>
> I am still hoping that if there is a satisfactory "stand-alone" Windows
> VPython distribution - which is truly a single download and isolated from
> any other Python installation on the machine (along the lines which I have
> been pursuing) - there will be more willingness to decouple Numeric and
> VPython in a VPython as "extension module" distribution.
>
> But I do certainly  appreciate Bruce's willingness to be open-minded in
> taking a fresh look at some of these issues.
>
> Art