3. Install Python

3.1. Python Installation

Python is a core element of the TACTIC application. The TACTIC application has been developed around the the python programming language.

The installations of both python and supporting modules is a reqirement in a successful installation of TACTIC. Although the TACTIC core files can exist on the host machine, it is the existance of both Python and the supporting modules.

Python 2.5 is the defacto standard for deployments of the TACTIC application. 2.6 and 2.7 are supported as well. Currently, Python 3.0 is unsupported.

The installation of core Python is not enough for the successful installation of TACTIC. Several modules must be installed. These modules provide the following functions:

  • Extensive XML support
  • Connectivity to DB co-service
  • *Win32*support on windows
  • Cryptography support
  • JSON support
  • Imaging support

The TACTIC application can support different different Python Supporting Modules, depending on the version of TACTIC.

There are a number of variables that will affect which modules will be required to install on a host machine. These considerations are;

  • DB Co-service deployed
  • Desired support module deployed when multiple support module types exist.
Support Module Type Module name TACTIC supported version

XML support

lxml

All

DB Co-Service Support

Psycopg2 or CX-Oracle (psycopg2 is preferred for postgres database set-up)

All

Win32 (used in client computers interacting with the server)

PyWin32

All

Cryptography

PyCrypto

All

JSON (not needed since Python 2.6)

SimpleJSON

All

Imaging

PIL and ImageMagick (optional)

All

On Windows systems, TACTIC Python and supporting module availability is through the websites of the supporting module projects. Additionally, Southpaw Technology supports redistribution of installers for these modules on the support web site.

On UNIX/Linux systems, the system package manager typically has options for installing all the required Python packages onto the UNIX host machine. To find the official distribution of a supporting package, the search functionality of a package manager is useful.

#/ yum search lxml