RE: [Visualpython-users] Minor Windows installer fix

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

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vis...@li... [mailto:visualpython-


> Here's what happened. Python24\Lib\idlelib\config-main.def contains the
> specs for how IDLE works, and these preferences are used if you don't
> have one of your own. I made a mistake in generating the Python 2.4
> VPython for Windows in not setting these general preferences to the ones
> novice users of VPython expect (start up edit window; autosave on run).
> The second bug I fixed is that uninstall should not remove this file.
> 
> In your Documents and Settings\Your Name\.idlerc is a personal file that
> overrides, so that depending on past history you might or might not get
> the behavior you expect.

I haven't understood this decision. Nor find it supportable. 

IMO, config-main.def should be considered to be untouchable by an
installation program.  It is a library file that represents the defaults
chosen by the author of Idle. Idle is designed to allow these defaults to be
overridden by specific mechanisms built-in to Idle and its users interface.
Protocol, it seems to me, is to respect - if not the author's sense of "what
a novice user expects" - than at least his/her mechanism for overriding it. 

The proper options seem to be to be (in no particular order):

1) Have the Vpython installation create or overwrite (with warning) the
.idlerc file in the appropriate location. 

2) Convince the author of Idle to change the defaults in the official
distribution to the one's you seem to think  "novice users of VPython
expect".

3) Include a Readme of some sort with VPython which instructs folks on the
very simple and straightforward mechanism for changing the start-up defaults
provided through the user interface.

I find no way to include the current VPython distribution decision -
overwriting a library file - on a list of proper options.

I think the Windows distribution has in fact made great strides both
technically, and in its handling of its responsibility to "play nice with
others".  This is my last bone of contention with it.  

It's a small enough point, but to me represents an important principal of
cooperation. So I happen to get a bit heated on the issue.

Do you see me as missing something here? 

Please do correct me if you see the basis to do so.

Art