Re: [Visualpython-users] MacEnthon

[Gary P. <gp...@ri...>]

Gary Pajer wrote:

> Many of you have probably seen the recent unveiling of "MacEnthon"
>
> http://www.scipy.org/wikis/featurerequests/MacEnthon
>
> It's a all-in-one scientific package for python, similar to Enthought 
> Python for windows, including scipy, matplotlib, ipython ....   The 
> author says that "The goal is to make something that a user can 
> install and have running without installing anything else, so it is 
> going to use the pre-installed Python (or install its own in the case 
> of Python 2.4)."
>
> It is a "framework" package.

[...]

>
> So ... is this new development providing enough reason to develop a 
> "framework" vpython?
> (Asked in ignorance of the technical details, and a sense of the level 
> of effort needed.)
>
> -gary


I've had an off-line discussion with someone about the feasibility of 
doing this.  I think that neither of us is competent to comment with 
authority.

I've taken a quick look at the mailing list archives, and I conclude 
that I can't conclude anything.  I suspect that if it were 
straightforward, someone would have already done it.  (If someone has 
done it and reported to this list, and I'm just blind, please speak up.)   

No one has yet commented here, which makes me wonder if there is no 
interest.   While I understand that all of us already have working 
versions of visual, this development promises (I think) to make life 
much easier for newcomers and for us in the future.

MacEnthon is the first and only thing that I've seen that makes me want 
to consider MacPython/"framework"  python. I have no experience with 
it.  If there are good reasons for not using it (other than visual 
python unavailability) I'd appreciate hearing what they are.

I stopped maintaining my Mac at OS 10.2.6.  Do I understand correctly 
that OS 10.3 adopts MacPython as the native python?  IIRC,  OS 10.2.x 
actually had three pythons available, the native one, MacPython and 
Fink's python.  Ugh.

In truth, I had my Mac removed while 10.2.6 was current.  It was too 
much trouble ... impossible in some cases  ... to maintain the python 
packages I wanted (matplotlib, e.g.).  I understand that 10.3 is easier 
because the fink packages are being currently maintained for 10.3.    
But we still have Macs in the labs.  I have not taken on the task of 
installing visual on them, although I think I will have to by next 
September when I start teaching M&I.  The installation and maintenance 
issues were prohibitive. 

So you see how much easier my task (and that of others) would be to have 
a simply installed package, and one that does not require the additional 
complication of  Fink.  Hence the compelling nature of MacEnthon, and my 
desire to have visual run with it.  I wish I had the skills to do it 
myself. 

-gary