py27-pyqwt: support for qwt60

[jeremy.holleman@…]

Is it possible to install gnuradio with qwt60 instead of qwt52? From the deps info on gnuradio and based on my handful of attempts, it would appear that it is not, but the gnuradio package I am trying to use (gr-radar: ​https://github.com/kit-cel/gr-radar) requires it, suggesting that it is possible, at least on some platforms.

I tried deactivating qwt, py27-pyqwt, and gnuradio; installing qwt60; and then running "port install gnuradio" with fingers crossed, but that resulted in this (expected) error: "Error: Unable to execute port: Can't install qwt52 because conflicting ports are active: qwt60"

Misc info: I've just run port selfupdate and port upgrade outdated. I'm on a MacBook Pro running 10.10.3.

Thanks, Jeremy

[ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)]

This seems more like a question about py27-pyqwt, since gnuradio just depends on py27-pyqwt, and py27-pyqwt depends on qwt52.

[michaelld (Michael Dickens)]

This is a somewhat complicated issue; let me try to explain.

PyQwt is quite old; it works with Qt4 and QWT5 only for all practical purposes. There is a note I left in the Portfile that it is not compatible with QWT6, in this case the 6.0 series. I doubt it is compatible with QWT6+ at all. QWT continues development while PyQwt has not changed in years & I have seen no sign that it'll be taken over and updated.

We will be moving Qt4 (qt4-mac) install locations, which will require updating a variety of ports -- hopefully most will be a simple rev-bump. I think many Python ports will be a pain to get to work; they generally are tweaky when it comes to specifying arguments & such, preferring to do that on their own. PyQwt is likely to be one of these ports that will require attention to get working.

There are good uses for QWT5 and QWT 6.0+. Right now, these are installed as libraries (e.g., $PREFIX/lib/libqwt.5.2.3.dylib). Moving the install to Frameworks should be pretty straight forward, and would allow for multiple versions to be active at the same time. In this manner, GNU Radio can use PyQwt for its one remaining application (the filter design tool), but other ports could use QWT6+ directly. It'll take some work to get to this point, and I'm not sure when I'll have time -- maybe I'll try to do this during the Qt4 switch-over.

Anyway, it's an interesting and complicated problem. Please be patient; I do want this fixed, but also fixed correctly.