packaging a python project and associated graphics files

[Rajarshi Guha]

Hi, I've been trying to package a python project and I'm a little confused
about how I distribute some PNG's that the program uses as icons.

Using distutils I can set the data_files argument of setup() and get my
data files located in, say, /usr/local/mydata.

However when I write my code, it would seem that I have to hardcode the
above path. But this would mean that while working on the code I would
need to have it 'installed' on my system (or else actually make the above
directory).

This seems a little unwieldy. How do people handle this situation?

Thanks,

[Mike Meyer]

Re: packaging a python project and associated graphics files

Rajarshi Guha <rajarshi@presi dency.com> writes:
[color=blue]
> Hi, I've been trying to package a python project and I'm a little confused
> about how I distribute some PNG's that the program uses as icons.
>
> Using distutils I can set the data_files argument of setup() and get my
> data files located in, say, /usr/local/mydata.
>
> However when I write my code, it would seem that I have to hardcode the
> above path. But this would mean that while working on the code I would
> need to have it 'installed' on my system (or else actually make the above
> directory).
>
> This seems a little unwieldy. How do people handle this situation?[/color]

With symlinks from the installed location to the source tree.

<mike
--
Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.or g> http://www.mired.org/home/mwm/
Independent WWW/Perforce/FreeBSD/Unix consultant, email for more information.

[Robert Kern]

Re: packaging a python project and associated graphics files

Rajarshi Guha wrote:[color=blue]
> Hi, I've been trying to package a python project and I'm a little confused
> about how I distribute some PNG's that the program uses as icons.
>
> Using distutils I can set the data_files argument of setup() and get my
> data files located in, say, /usr/local/mydata.
>
> However when I write my code, it would seem that I have to hardcode the
> above path. But this would mean that while working on the code I would
> need to have it 'installed' on my system (or else actually make the above
> directory).
>
> This seems a little unwieldy. How do people handle this situation?[/color]

I recommend packaging the files in the package itself. With Python 2.4,
you can make distutils do this with the package_data argument to
setup(). You can find your files by looking at the __file__ variable in
any of your modules.

Also, take a look at PythonEggs and pkg_resources.

http://peak.telecommunity.com/DevCenter/PythonEggs
http://peak.telecommunity.com/DevCenter/PkgResources

--
Robert Kern
rkern@ucsd.edu

"In the fields of hell where the grass grows high
Are the graves of dreams allowed to die."
-- Richard Harter