stupid_idiot
Group: Members
Posts: 344
Joined: Oct. 2006 |
 |
Posted: Mar. 07 2008,12:17 |
 |
/usr/local/bin/python is the Python executable file (a.k.a. a binary file). In Windows, it might be named python.exe.
An installation of Python consists of many files and directories, not just the executable itself. For example, the /usr/local/lib/python/ directory, which contains many text files defining misc. functions (system functions, file operations, networking, etc) in Python. All those files must be present for all of Python's features to work. Without those files in /usr/local/lib/python/ in place, you will still be able to run python (a.k.a. the Python interpreter), but many important functions will not work.
On the other hand, an 'extension' (e.g. python2.5.unc) is a 'software package'. It contains all the many different files Python needs to run; including, but not limited to, /usr/local/bin/python.
Definitions of package:
- a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
- a wrapped container
- box: put into a box; "box the gift, please"
- (Computing) A package is a compressed file in a distribution specific format. It contains the files for a particular program you want to install.
(From:
http://www.google.com/search?q=define:package)
So, an 'extension' could be thought of as an 'add-on package'.
As far as I know, only DSL users refer to packages as "extensions" - other Linux distributions call their packages "packages".
|
.
DSL Market ,
Great VPS hosting provided by Tektonic
