Question: Gatsby's dependency on Python

[NMinhNguyen]

Hey @KyleAMathews, could you please elaborate on why exactly Gatsby needs Python? I've only been able to find some info in #623 (comment). In your email reply to my query you said

NPM requires Python to build native packages sometimes.

However, I have just checked out a project on a colleague's machine (who does not have Python installed), did npm install and node_modules/.bin/gatsby develop and build and it all worked fine. The reason I'm so interested in knowing why Python is required is so that I can either tell people in my team to install Python or not. And similarly for the CI server :)

Perhaps a slightly more direct question - what native packages exactly does Gatsby depend on?

[KyleAMathews]

Not every configuration of Gatsby will need Python. If your project installs without Python currently then don't worry about this until you add a dependency which does need it.

[NMinhNguyen]

Could you give an example of such dependencies/configuration? I'm happy to submit a PR to clarify the note about Python in the README file, if you wish.

[KyleAMathews]

Here's a list https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/wiki/%22binding.gyp%22-files-out-in-the-wild

It looks like the main one people would run into is node-sass.

[devdigital]

Also gatsby-remark-images->gatsby-plugin-sharp->sharp->node-gyp

See https://github.com/nodejs/node-gyp#installation