On 10/01/2010 18:46, Tarek Ziadé wrote:
On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 5:01 PM, Brad Allen<[email protected]> wrote:
Yes, it's a big change but common usage is a strong tailwind which
could make it easier. It could start with a PEP and a survey link sent
to python-announce. Personally I strongly prefer the word 'package'
the way it is used today in the PyPI user interface. Using the word
'distribution' all over that page just doesn't seem right...
I think we just need to agree on a list of definition and update these
two pages:
-
http://docs.python.org/dev/distutils/introduction.html#general-python-terminology
-
http://docs.python.org/dev/distutils/introduction.html#distutils-specific-terminology
Rafael add the latest version here :
http://wiki.python.org/moin/Distutils/Terminology (with improvements
I am going to coming)
Maybe what you could do is propose your own terminology under this one
in the wiki page,
I'll do the same (mainly by copying Tres' definition)
I'm joining the list now and will try to help, so, hi all!
AFAICT, once the release and project terms are added to the list of
definitions the terminology confusion revolves around the following options:
1) make package mean distribution and replace the current package term
with a different one.
2) don allow package as synonymous of distribution and come with a nicer
term than distribution with the hope that it will be more widely used
than package and distribution.
3) somehow make legal the commonly-used-in-pactice but inaccurate
package term as a synonymous of distribution.
I find 1 and 2 not very practical, as they try to fight a common and
intuitive use of the a widespread word like "package" (excepting the
accurate use made by people familiar enough with distutils which already
don't have any problem with the existing terms). Also, the alternative
terms have, IMHO, the drawback of not being as obvious as "package" in
their meaning for indoeuropean language speakers (and probably for
english speakers too).
I feel that part of the confusion about "packages" and its inaccurate
use in informal language happens because packaging intuitively reflects
both what we do with modules in proper packages and what with do with
projects or software in what's called a distribution, by grouping
separate content. The packaging word also has the advantage of alluding
to an object you can manipulate (like in giving it to others), while
distribution, AFAICT, hasn't much use as a common name (to denote an
object) apart from the too technical "Linux distributions" use.
That's why I think 1) is easier and find very compelling John
Gabrielle's idea of qualifying the terms "package" as "module package"
and "(module) distribution" as "distribution package". These point to
the two levels of packaging or grouping used, one for namespacing or
grouping code and other for distribution or grouping software components
for distribution.
The expanded terms would also allow the current formal terms as
abbreviations (package vs distribution) and a more informal and general
term (package) that could be further qualified when additional context
for more precision is needed.
In any case, the problem with PyPI meaning "Python Project Index" or
staying as it is now if package is "distribution package" would then be
solved too.
Regards,
Rafael Villar Burke
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