dh_python2 and /usr/share/pyshared in quantal

[Scott Kitterman]

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 11:33:18 AM Barry Warsaw wrote:
> For example, I took a look at authres which uses dh_python2.  debian/rules
> creates a symlink in pyshared to its test suite, and then
> d/python-authres.install references pyshared.  Even after reading the
> changelog entry, it's not clear to me why this particular solution was
> chosen. Fortunately the maintainer is here and can probably answer that
> <wink>.

In that case it's because I had to install an extra, non-code, file for the 
test suite that dh_python2 didn't recognize should go there.  Arguably that's 
something I should be able to accomplish by configuring dh_python2, but it's a 
rare enough situation installing directly to the correct location makes sense.

I've got another case (pyspf) where I needed a symlink that would work 
regardless of if the default Python version was used.

/usr/share/pyshared is the correct location for such things.  That's what 
Python policy says.  pyshared is not an internal implementation detail of 
dh_python2.  It's where Python policy says to find such things.

I think it's an open question about we want to remove the general ability in 
the Debian Python system to support multiple Python versions.  It's a much 
broader question than just /usr/share/pyshared.  I don't think that there is 
any reason for Ubuntu to try and get ahead of Debian for this.

Scott K