title: MySQL-python 1.2.3 and OS X 10.5: 64- or 32-bit?
body: <p>I've been happily using Django and MySQL in development on an existing machine running OS X 10.4 Tiger, and have set up a similar environment in 10.5 Leopard on a new 64-bit MacBook, with a working MySQL and Python 2.6.4.</p>
  
  <p>However, now I want them to communicate, <code>easy_install MySQL-python</code> gave <code>ld warning</code>s that the <code>file is not of the required architecture</code>, which led me to test my Python 2.4.6 install (from the <a href="http://www.python.org/download/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mac OS X disc image</a>):</p>
  
  <pre><code>&gt;&gt;&gt; import sys
  &gt;&gt;&gt; sys.maxint
  2147483647
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Ah. So my Python install appears to be 32-bit and (I think?) won't install MySQL-python for my 64-bit MySQL. There are lots of hacks out there for MySQL-python on OS X (mostly 1.2.2), but - after hours of reading - I'm pretty sure they won't fix this architecture mismatch. So I'm stuck because I can't decide whether to:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>give up, remove the <a href="http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.5.html#macosx-dmg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">64-bit MySQL</a> install (thorough methods, please?) and use the 32-bit MySQL disc image instead;</li>
  <li>re-install Python in 64-bit mode from the tarball,<br>
  <code>--with-universal archs-64-bit</code> and <code>--enable-universalsdk=</code><br>
  as <a href="http://www.python.org/download/releases/2.6/NEWS.txt" rel="nofollow noreferrer">detailed in Python.org's 2.6 news</a>.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>So my questions for anyone who has encountered this issue are:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Is installing 64-bit Python on OS X 10.5 worth bothering with?</li>
  <li>If so, (naive, lazy question!) how are the two required arguments combined?</li>
  <li>If I just skip along in 32-bit (as on my working setup) what am I missing?</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I'm after a hassle-free install that's easy to reproduce on other machines (possible student use) so I'd really welcome your opinions, please!</p>