[IPython-user] Toward a seemless install for reluctant converts

[Ryan Krauss]

I am starting a summer class next Tuesday (5/22) and I am seriously
considering requiring Python.  I need a truly painless install for
this to work.  Ville's idea of a batch file will work well I think and
the new 0.8.1 installer gets me very close.  The scipy profile still
throws some errors if Numeric isn't installed.  I think things will be
less confusing if my students never learn of Numeric, though I can
easily throw it in if it solves some other problems.  So, I think I
need one of two things: either I need to get the default
ipythonrc-scipy.ini file changed so that all Numeric references are
removed (I think there are 2) or I need help writing a batch file that
replaces the default ipythonrc-scipy.ini with one that I write.  This
would need to include somehow knowing where the _ipython directory is
(possibly by looking up the %HOME% environment variable and I don't
know what it does if it isn't defined).  Can someone help me with one
or both of these options?

Changing the default ipythonrc-scipy.ini file might mean sort of
removing Numeric support from IPython, which might be premature.  The
offending lines are:
import_all scipy #IPython.numutils
and the last one
#execfile Extensions/numeric_formats.py
(the #'s are my "fixes").

And I need to have all this working by Monday.  Can we make this
happen?  I am willing to do most of the work, but mainly need to pick
the brains of people like Ville who know a lot more about batch files
than I do.

Thanks,

Ryan