[several] Ubuntu 24.04 support + various improvements

.gitignore

@@ -3,3 +3,7 @@ packages.mk
 *.deb
 *.rpm
 *.log
+
+# Python cache
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]

README.md

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Currently tested on:
 
 - Ubuntu 20.04
 - Ubuntu 22.04
+- Ubuntu 24.04
 - CentOS 7
 - AlmaLinux 8
 - Rocky Linux 8
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ In a new container, run the following:
 
 ```bash
 apt-get update
-apt-get install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro
+apt-get install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro python3-distutils
 ./install_prerequisites.py
 
 update-alternatives --install /usr/local/bin/gcc gcc /usr/bin/gcc-10 1
@@ -33,11 +34,11 @@ hash -r
 make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
 ```
 
-## Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 11, and Debian 12
+## Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 11, and Debian 12
 
 ```bash
 apt-get update
-apt-get install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro
+apt-get install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro python3-setuptools
 ./install_prerequisites.py
 
 make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
@@ -46,40 +47,40 @@ make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
 ## RHEL / CentOS 7
 
 ```bash
-yum install -y sudo git python3 centos-release-scl epel-release
-yum install -y python36-distro devtoolset-10-gcc devtoolset-10-gcc-c++
+yum install -y sudo git python3 epel-release
+yum install -y python36-distro
 
 # Installing the prerequistes must be done before enabling the GCC compiler
 # environment.
 ./install_prerequisites.py
 
 # Enable the GCC 10 compiler tools.
 scl enable devtoolset-10 bash
+export IRODS_EXTERNALS_GCC_PREFIX="/opt/rh/devtoolset-10/root/usr"
 
 make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
 ```
 
 ## RHEL / AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux 8
 
 ```bash
-dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
-dnf install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro gcc-toolset-11
+dnf install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro
 
 # Installing the prerequistes must be done before enabling the GCC compiler
 # environment.
 ./install_prerequisites.py
 
 # Enable the GCC 11 compiler tools.
 scl enable gcc-toolset-11 bash
+export IRODS_EXTERNALS_GCC_PREFIX="/opt/rh/gcc-toolset-11/root/usr"
 
 make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
 ```
 
 ## RHEL / AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux 9
 
 ```bash
-dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
-dnf install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro
+dnf install -y sudo git python3 python3-distro python3-setuptools
 ./install_prerequisites.py
 make # or "make server" for packages specific to building the iRODS server.
 ```