grplib uses Python from PATH

[cdeil]

I'm getting this configure error for grplib when I try python2.7 setup.py install for Sherpa:
https://gist.github.com/cdeil/39e9404e91954cb67270#file-gistfile1-txt-L284

It tries to use python3.4, which is the python on my PATH.
Instead it should use the Python with which I call setup.py.

[taldcroft]

@cdeil - yeah, that looks like a problem in configure. At least for now the easiest workflow for sherpa development is going to be an isolated Anaconda environment or something similar.

[olaurino]

@cdeil thanks for the report

I see two issues here:

• as you reported, the build is not taking into account that you want to force python2.7, despite the fact that python3 has the precedence in your PATH setup.
• the macro that should ensure python's version is 2.7 is not doing its job: you should get a meaningful error message if building with python3.

Regarding the first issue, here is a workaround: just export PYTHON=python2.7 before you run python2.7 setup.py install. Then the configure script will not try to infer the Python version itself. I will take this report as a suggestion for a feature enhancement so to make this transparent to the user: if python2.7 is used to run setup.py it should also be used to build the python extensions built externally.

Regarding the second issue, it is an actual bug. Unfortunately, a fix would require to rerun the autotools, and I need to coordinate this with the grplib maintainers, as this code is taken from the CIAO codebase.

I will create two separate tickets, as I believe these two issues will be addressed separately.

[olaurino]

This issue has been replaced by #19 and #20

[olaurino]

@cdeil if you agree I would like to close this issue: your report will be addressed in #19 and #20 separately.

[cdeil]

@olaurino – Sure, splitting separate issues into different tickets is always a good idea. Closing this one now.