python setup.py problem [solved]

[Wichmann, Mats D]

>> It's likely that python-dev depends on a whole bunch of other stuff
>> that one may not care about to just install a bit of python code.
>
>I can install a python program with "aptitude install my-prog"
>I cannot install a python program manually without python-dev
>
>I can install a KDE program with "aptitude install my-prog"
>I cannot install a KDE program manually without python-dev
>
>
>What's the difference ?

The latter requires a whole bunch of external dependencies
so that you can compile the code.  

*Everyone* else puts distutils in the base python package,
not in the devel package (including Debian)