However I completely disagree that Python (or Perl or PHP) is a good choice for use in build systems.
As part of the configure process, I would agree with you, but as part of buildconf, I disagree--not everyone needs to run buildconf--only developers, and if you're a developer, it's *really* not asking that much to have Python on your dev box.
Sure it is. If I wasn't so busy I would have vetoed the change on the grounds that it causes httpd to no longer be buildable by developers on the Cray MP. And no, I don't care whether anyone else thinks that is an important requirement. Creating entry barriers is what prevents development on new platforms that you haven't even heard of yet.
Or even platforms you have heard of: within hours of this change I had complaints from people who couldn't build snapshots in order to try out mod_log_forensic...
Cheers,
Ben.
