[proposal]: Add custom paths/settings to environment modules

[mwilliammyers]

I think you can already add custom paths eg. export PYTHONHOME to a generated environment module using this method in package.py but it would be nice to be able to not have to modify the package.py file or override it with another local package.

I am thinking something like this for the modules.yaml config:

modules:
  ...
  jdk:
    set_env:
      - JAVA_HOME: $prefix
  foo:
    prepend_path:
      - BAR: $prefix.lib
    append_path:
      - BAZ: $prefix.include

Where you can reference any of the prefix attribute variables listed here.

[tgamblin]

I like it!

[alalazo]

Can I suggest :

modules:
  ...
  jdk:
    set_env:
      - JAVA_HOME: {prefix}
  foo:
    prepend_path:
      - BAR: {prefix.lib}
    append_path:
      - BAZ: {prefix.include}

in that way you may use python string formatting capabilities out of the box 😄

[alalazo]

@mwilliammyers I have received a bunch of user feedback for our modules and I'll need to generate something like what you propose, with the only difference that I'll need to permit some token expansion also on the keys, e.g. :

modules:
    prefix_inspections:
      '':
      - '{name}_ROOT'
    tcl:
      all:
        environment:
          set:
            '{name}_FOO': '{ver}'

Did you start already working on this? In case, would it make sense to you to work together in #1135 ? @tgamblin ?

[mwilliammyers]

@alalazo sorry this one/your most recent comment slipped by me. I am currently revamping the opencv package because I need to get that installed. I am almost done with that and so I would be happy to work on this with you, if it is not too late.