title: State of Python Packaging: Buildout, Distribute, Distutils, EasyInstall, etc
body: <p>The last time I had to worry about installing Python packages was two years ago working with <a href="http://www.enthought.com/" rel="noreferrer">Enthought</a>, <a href="http://numpy.scipy.org/" rel="noreferrer">NumPy</a> and <a href="http://code.enthought.com/projects/mayavi/#Mayavi2" rel="noreferrer">MayaVi2</a>.  That experience gave me lingering nightmares related to quirky behavior installing &amp; updating Python packages in non-standard locations (in <code>$HOME/usr/local2.6/</code>, for example).</p>
  
  <p>Anyway, my work is taking me back to installing various Python packages.  The <a href="http://wiki.python.org/moin/CheeseShopTutorial" rel="noreferrer">CheeseShop Tutorial</a> mentions DistUtils and EasyInstall in addition to Buildout!  I am having a hard time finding one place that compares these (and other) PyPi installation tools, so I am hoping to tap into the StackOverflow community:  <strong>What are the strengths &amp; weaknesses of each installation tool?</strong></p>