[Zope] Re: Zope binary distributions

[Jim Penny]

On Fri, Feb 01, 2002 at 02:04:44PM -0700, Erik Stephens wrote:
> Dieter writes:
> > Erik Stephens writes:
> >  > Given the recent problems we're having with needing certain build
> >  > options set and specific versions for Python, it would be nice if we
> >  > could rely on a binary Zope distribution and not have to second guess
> >  > that we are screwing up somewhere in the build process.  Am I missing
> >  > the boat somewhere?
> > 
> > If I were Zope.com (or Zope.org), I would be quite angry about
> > this request...
> > 
> >    What do you/your company pay that you request such a level of service?
> >    I.e. a binary distribution specifically tailored to your needs?
> 
> Whoa, Dieter, don't get your panties in a bunch!  All I was trying to
> get at was that maybe we were f'ing up the build some how and was
> HOPING there would be a way to rely on the experts for that step.  I
> was just trying to get some details about the Zope binary
> distribution, which I must've been a complete idiot about.  Please
> forgive me.
> 
> This kind of crap doesn't belong on a mail list, but since you want to
> incite a flame on it, I'll be more than happy to oblige.  You got a
> beef with me, then email me directly and spare the rest of us with
> this waste of bandwidth.
> 
> Is it my fault that Zope people are overly sensitive right now?  Am I
> spreading misinformation?  I thought I was just asking questions.  I
> didn't know that was such a crime.
> 

Now, Dieter is one of the most willing to help people I have ever met,
and he does not work for Zope, or anything like that.  He was making,
perhaps a bit overstrongly, the point that unless you are willing to pay
zope.com to provide a custom binary for you; you have no right to make a
rather sarcastic "am I missing the boat somewhere?" remark.

Dieter was telling you that you are indeed missing the boat.  The boat
is called sweat equity.  Zope.com has done a great service in allowing
the rest of us to use their work.  They are under no obligation to
customize things for you.  (On the other hand, they want zope to spread,
so neither do they want to make things more difficult for you.)

Had you asked politely, you would never have gotten such a remark.

Now, on to another aspect.  Personally, I think that the Zope.org
sponsored binary distributions are a bad thing.  If I were doing it,
I would offer it only for the Microsoft Windows bunch; and this is 
not out of respect to market or anything like that.  I would offer 
a binary distribution to them only because it is more work for them 
to get and install python correctly.

Why are binary distibutions bad on non-Microsoft targets?  Essentially
because you ahve to know something extra and adapt every addon C-module
in special ways.  The binary ditributions use a non-standard python
path, non-standard library paths, etc.  I have seen much confusion from
people who are trying to install database adaptors on the binary
distributions.

Jim Penny


> -Erik
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Zope maillist  -  Zope@zope.org
> http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope
> **   No cross posts or HTML encoding!  **
> (Related lists - 
>  http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-announce
>  http://lists.zope.org/mailman/listinfo/zope-dev )
>