Python has had a scattered history with OS X releases, making it a problematic target. Snow Leopard brings Python up-to-date, but it unfortunately creates compatibility issues with cross-platform graphical frameworks.

One of the things that's being debated for C-Turtle is how to package Python this time around. The options are:

1) status quo: py25-* packages via MacPorts
2) py26-* packages via MacPorts
3) easy_install for all Python packages, use system installation of Python

I'm starting to lean towards #3, based on the fact that I've experienced numerous Python regressions with the MacPorts packages (e.g. ipython and readline), but feedback is always welcome. I would like a solution that works well with both 10.5 and 10.6, though the large discontinuity between those OSX releases makes maintaining both difficult (even from a Python perspective).

 - Ken

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Nicholas Butko <nbutko@ucsd.edu> wrote:
Out of curiosity, what is the reason why ROS prefers MacPorts' version of Python to the OSX distribution?

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

--Nick

On May 10, 2010, at 8:19 AM, Brian Gerkey wrote:

> On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 7:58 AM, Dan Lazewatsky
> <lazewatskyd@cse.wustl.edu> wrote:
>> That's what I figured. Any idea how to tell OpenCV to build with a
>> different version of Python?
>
> If memory serves, I did it in the manner recommended in the wiki
> (http://www.ros.org/wiki/ROS/Installation/OSX):
>  sudo ln -s /opt/local/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework /Library/Frameworks/
>
> The intent is to make the compiler prefer the MacPorts installation of
> Python when it's given '-framework Python'.  The note below that
> command indicates that we don't believe it to be the right solution:
>
> "Note: The symlink step above can fail if you have a system
> installation of a Python framework (which can happen with more recent
> versions of OS X). Also, this is probably not the right way to adjust
> the way that frameworks are located. We invite advice and ideas from
> OS X users on this issue."
>
> A bit of googling suggests the use the DYLD_FRAMEWORK_PATH environment
> variable to change the linker's search path (see the man page for
> dyld).  If you can make this work (e.g., setting
> DYLD_FRAMEWORK_PATH=/opt/local/Library/Frameworks before building
> OpenCV), please update the ROS OSX installation page.
>
>       brian.
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