[Visualpython-users] New installer under Debian

[Shaun P. <Sha...@an...>]

I have recently shifted jobs and have a debian install on my desktop. I 
have't been able to get VPython working on my machine so I was happy to 
try the new installer this morning. This is what I discovered.

I am running debian with a 2.4.19 kernel on a Dell Optiplex GX260
Downloaded the package OK. Unzipped and untarred it fine.
First important problem apt-get install libgtkgl5 does not work as the 
package doesn't exist. Attempts at finding other install servers that 
might have it were unsuccesful. No matter, I just plowed ahead.
./configure --prefix=/usr/local blew up when looking for gtk+ > 1.0
This was caused by the missing gtk-config program
Needed to load the gtk1.2lib-dev package which I found using dselect
Then it complained about gtkglarea not being installed, so I ran dselect 
and installed every package connected with gtkglarea
Still complained about gtkglarea not being installed
Needed to install mesa support, which I would have assumed came with the 
standard debian install but clearly did not in my case.
Again I used dselect to find a mesa package
./configure --prefix=/usr/local now worked fine
make install then ran without a hitch, if you ignore all the deprecated 
warning messages
Tested that idle ran and that little balls bounced around. Woo Hoo!