[lsst-dm-stack-users] A test development version of Winter'14 stack

[Michael Wood-Vasey]

Hi Chris,

OK, that makes sense, but I then don't understand why one has to install Anaconda Python at all?  The instructions in Mario's email stated

"""
# If you don't have python >= 2.7 with numpy >= 1.5.1 and
# matplotlib >=1.2.0, use Anaconda python distribution by installing
# it manually, or use the LSST-packaged one.
eups distrib install anaconda
setup anaconda
"""

But then "eups distrib install lsst" installs matplotlib, numpy, pyfits and other things anyway so why does the above matter?

The log file claims that it's building matplotlib and numpy.

  [  7/71 ]  matplotlib 1.2.0 (from source)                             done.
...
  [ 18/71 ]  numpy 1.5.1+61f754d329 (from source)                       done.

Specifically how does the LSST stack choose which Python when building?  Does it just look for 'python' in the path?  Is it not actually building these and just finding them in system?

[And sorry if the above question has an obvious answer that was answered in the preeceding long thread about Python installations.]

Thanks,
Michael

On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:42, Chris Walter <chris.walter at duke.edu> wrote:

> Hi Michael,
> 
> I think what Mario is saying is that the configure etc is only relevant for building of EUPS itself.  For that you don't care about matplot lib etc.  He is recommending that eups is built with the system python so it doesn't depend on anything else and doesn't break if alternative pythons get wiped out.
> 
> Building the actual DM stack is where anaconda or fink is relevant.
> 
> Is that right Mario?
> 
> -Chris
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:30 AM, Michael Wood-Vasey <wmwv at pitt.edu> wrote:
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2014, at 0:02, Mario Juric <majuric at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> A better choice may have been --with-python=/usr/bin/python. We should
>>> change that warning to make it clear that using /usr/bin/python is
>>> strongly preferred.
>> 
>> Hmmm...  I understand this touches on the long-running discussion of different pythons, etc.
>> 
>> To explain more clearly I did this because I wanted to use the numpy and matplotlib already installed with Fink.  Otherwise I have to install Anaconda (easy enough, I hear; but I wanted to keep this simple).  The system Python numpy is 1.6 and matplotlib is 1.1 which are older than the requirements.  
>> 
>> Aside from the downsides of blowing away /sw and breaking eups, are there any other concerns with using the /sw Python?
>> 
>> Using Anaconda to provide numpy and matplotlib seem to also bear the same risk that if I (re)move the Anaconda installation things break as well.  suppose it will be just the LSST stack using python rather than eups.  But for many users who are just using eups to install the LSST stack this is somewhat the same.
>> 
>> - Michael
>> 
>> 
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