[Bf-python] Bundled scripts that use python extensions?

[Stephen Swaney]

Jonathan Merritt wrote:
> 
> I'm just wondering what the policy will be for bundled scripts that
> require Python extension modules?  How will this work in a general case?

Good question.  There are a number of very high-power packages
like the Python Imaging Library or PyNumeric ( or Numeric Python
or whatever it's called today ).  It would be foolish not to take
advantage of these when useful.

Anything we package and distribute would have to be licensed under
the GPL or something similar.

Some of these packages are large and need to be installed.
We don't really want to be involved in this.

I would tend to put scripts that require more than a standard
python install into a separate bundle.  We need to make it very 
clear where the necessary packages can be obtained.


> PS - Is there a bundled scripts discussion group yet?  I did go looking
> (I promise) in the Wiki, but couldn't find one listed there.

It is on the Wiki under Scripts | Links | Mailing Lists
Joeedh already send the actual link.

We should bug Nathan to add the Script mlist to the others
at projects.blender.org.

A final thought:

One thing I would suggest, for *all* scripts that need anything
more than the Blender module, is to put the import statements
inside a try block.  That way, if the import fails, the script
writer can provide something more than helpful than the usual
"ImportError: No module named blah".

-- 
Stephen Swaney			
sswaney at swbell.net