I think we need (at least as a transitional stopgap) a single "python setup.py install" to install both matplotlib and mathtex. Once distributions catch up (which could take more than a year, depending on cycles), we can consider being more loosely coupled. There are already examples of installing subpackages from matplotlib (pytz and dateutil) for example, and each of the extensions (_backend_agg etc.) have examples in setupext.py showing how to dynamically add extensions and packages to the list of things that matplotlib's setup.py will install and build. Are there fundamental differences in how that works vs. how mathtex needs to work that is a stumbling block? I must admit I haven't thought it all the way through, but I'm surprised that the existing examples there don't provide a template for how to deal with mathtex. That said, I know that distutils can be rather, um, labyrinthine. Cheers, Mike Freddie Witherden wrote: > Hi, > > I was thinking about the problem of including mathtex in matplotlib earlier > and came up with an alternative means of 'solving' the problem. > > Instead of hacking setup.py to install mathtex on the behalf of matplotlib it > may be easier to leave it up to the user/packager to install mathtex. > > While simplifying the code (not as many changed are need to the setup files) it > also eliminates the problems associated with one package installing another > package (matplotlib installing mathtex). > > This could be done either through ones distribution package manger, standalone > (getting the mathtex source) or just by following the instructions in > lib/mathtex/INSTALL. (Checking out matplotlib also checks out the mathtex > source into lib/mathtex.) > > However, I am interested if this solution is acceptable to the matplotlib > developers. > > It may also be worth pointing out that mathtex is an optional dependency of > matplotlib and is not required for matplotlib to function. > > Regards, Freddie. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Let Crystal Reports handle the reporting - Free Crystal Reports 2008 30-Day > trial. Simplify your report design, integration and deployment - and focus on > what you do best, core application coding. Discover what's new with > Crystal Reports now. http://p.sf.net/sfu/bobj-july > _______________________________________________ > Matplotlib-devel mailing list > Mat...@li... > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel > -- Michael Droettboom Science Software Branch Operations and Engineering Division Space Telescope Science Institute Operated by AURA for NASA