Save the environment!

+Rob Galanakis  posted this on Google+, and as I started to reply I realized this would be a useful thing to put out to a wider audience.  Or maybe useful isn't the right word - it's just something that bugs me so I want to bloviate about it.

Hey +Cory Mogk , +Brad Clark, +Steve Theodore , and whoever else in #techart . Has anyone figured out a viable model for reusing Python libraries in Maya, like other Python applications with pip/virtualenv/requirements.txt do? Is there a conversation anywhere?

The short answer to Rob's question is : I've tried to go this route, but I couldn't get a virtualenv-based approach to match for my needs.   For the long answer, read on...

Shameless plug time

The book I worked on is finally available for ordering on Amazon!

I'm pleased and of course also nervous.  If you like it, please be sure to leave a positive review on Amazon - I'm told it makes a big difference.  I don't actually make any money from this one (such is modern publishing, alas) but I do have another book under way and it'll be much easier to get that published if this one does well and is well reviewed.