python 3.12 removes distutils

[wdpypere]

we should port away from it. https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/deprecated/distutils-legacy.html

[boegel]

There's already problems popping up with Python 3.11 too:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Volumes/work/vsc-mympirun/setup.py", line 31, in <module>
    import vsc.install.shared_setup as shared_setup
  File "/Volumes/work/vsc-install/lib/vsc/install/shared_setup.py", line 76, in <module>
    from setuptools.command.test import ScanningLoader
ImportError: cannot import name 'ScanningLoader' from 'setuptools.command.test'

[stdweird]

@boegel what does this error have to do with the distutils being stripped/refactored?

[boegel]

It's not, it's related to changes in setuptools, I can open a dedicated issue on that I guess

[stdweird]

yes please. and mention what setuptools version you use.

[stdweird]

@wdpypere what problem did you actually see? the code was already compatible with local distutils it seems. (or i can't trigger it)
the issue that @boegel encountered is because setuptools decided to remove the test command by breaking it (it was deprecated for long long time). not sure how to resolve in the future; we can always ship the test command with vsc-install, that is no big issue imho.

[stdweird]

@boegel you can also encounter the scanning loader error when installing with a too recent pip (anything older then 23). the error is a bit different

[stdweird]

Option 1:
Create a file called constraints.txt

setuptools<72

Then set PIP_CONSTRAINT=/path/to/constraints.txt

Option 2: Use --no-build-isolation (and make sure you have an old setuptools installed)

pypa/setuptools#4519 (comment)