From: Sridhar Ratnakumar on
We are pleased to announce the availability of ActivePython 2.6.5.14.

http://www.activestate.com/activepython

This is a minor release with several bug fixes. As usual, it includes an updated Python Package Manager (PyPM) with updates to essential packages such as Distribute (a compatible fork of setuptools), virtualenv, pip and SQLAlchemy. See the release notes for full details:

http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/2.6/relnotes.html#changes


What is ActivePython?
---------------------

ActivePython is ActiveState's binary distribution of Python. Builds for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux are made freely available. Solaris, HP-UX and AIX builds, and access to older versions are available in ActivePython Business, Enterprise and OEM editions:

http://www.activestate.com/python

ActivePython includes the Python core and the many core extensions: zlib and bzip2 for data compression, the Berkeley DB (bsddb) and SQLite (sqlite3) database libraries, OpenSSL bindings for HTTPS support, the Tix GUI widgets for Tkinter, ElementTree for XML processing, ctypes (on supported platforms) for low-level library access, and others. The Windows distribution ships with PyWin32 -- a suite of Windows tools developed by Mark Hammond, including bindings to the Win32 API and Windows COM.

ActivePython 2.6 and 2.7 also include a binary package manager for Python (PyPM) that can be used to install packages much easily. For example:

C:\>pypm install mysql-python
[...]

C:\>python
>>> import MySQLdb
>>>

See this page for full details:

http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/2.6/whatsincluded.html

As well, ActivePython ships with a wealth of documentation for both new and experienced Python programmers. In addition to the core Python docs, ActivePython includes the "What's New in Python" series, "Dive into Python", the Python FAQs & HOWTOs, and the Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs).

An online version of the docs can be found here:

http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/2.6/

We would welcome any and all feedback to:

activepython-feedback(a)activestate.com

Please file bugs against ActivePython at:

http://bugs.activestate.com/enter_bug.cgi?product=ActivePython

On what platforms does ActivePython run?
----------------------------------------

ActivePython includes installers for the following platforms:

- Windows/x86
- Windows/x64 (aka "AMD64")
- Mac OS X
- Linux/x86
- Linux/x86_64 (aka "AMD64")
- Solaris/SPARC (Business, Enterprise or OEM edition only)
- Solaris/x86 (Business, Enterprise or OEM edition only)
- HP-UX/PA-RISC (Business, Enterprise or OEM edition only)
- HP-UX/IA-64 (Enterprise or OEM edition only)
- AIX/PowerPC (Business, Enterprise or OEM edition only)
- AIX/PowerPC 64-bit (Business, Enterprise or OEM edition only)

Custom builds are available in Enterprise Edition:

http://www.activestate.com/enterprise-edition

Thanks, and enjoy!

The Python Team

--
Sridhar Ratnakumar
sridharr at activestate.com