reverting partially distutils to its 2.6.x state so 2.7a4 looks more like the 2.7b1 in this. the whole revert will occur after a4 is tagged
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
index 420d7f1..8248089 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
@@ -4,27 +4,21 @@
 modules (currently limited to C extensions, should accommodate C++
 extensions ASAP)."""
 
+# This module should be kept compatible with Python 2.1.
+
 __revision__ = "$Id$"
 
-import sys, os, re
-from warnings import warn
-
-from distutils.util import get_platform
+import sys, os, string, re
+from types import *
+from site import USER_BASE, USER_SITE
 from distutils.core import Command
 from distutils.errors import *
-from distutils.ccompiler import customize_compiler
+from distutils.sysconfig import customize_compiler, get_python_version
 from distutils.dep_util import newer_group
 from distutils.extension import Extension
+from distutils.util import get_platform
 from distutils import log
 
-# this keeps compatibility from 2.3 to 2.5
-if sys.version < "2.6":
-    USER_BASE = None
-    HAS_USER_SITE = False
-else:
-    from site import USER_BASE
-    HAS_USER_SITE = True
-
 if os.name == 'nt':
     from distutils.msvccompiler import get_build_version
     MSVC_VERSION = int(get_build_version())
@@ -40,7 +34,7 @@
     show_compilers()
 
 
-class build_ext(Command):
+class build_ext (Command):
 
     description = "build C/C++ extensions (compile/link to build directory)"
 
@@ -100,55 +94,18 @@
          "list of SWIG command line options"),
         ('swig=', None,
          "path to the SWIG executable"),
+        ('user', None,
+         "add user include, library and rpath"),
         ]
 
-    boolean_options = ['inplace', 'debug', 'force', 'swig-cpp']
-
-    if HAS_USER_SITE:
-        user_options.append(('user', None,
-                             "add user include, library and rpath"))
-        boolean_options.append('user')
+    boolean_options = ['inplace', 'debug', 'force', 'swig-cpp', 'user']
 
     help_options = [
         ('help-compiler', None,
          "list available compilers", show_compilers),
         ]
 
-
-    # making 'compiler' a property to deprecate
-    # its usage as something else than a compiler type
-    # e.g. like a compiler instance
-    def __init__(self, dist):
-        self._compiler = None
-        Command.__init__(self, dist)
-
-    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
-        # need this to make sure setattr() (used in distutils)
-        # doesn't kill our property
-        if name == 'compiler':
-            self._set_compiler(value)
-        else:
-            self.__dict__[name] = value
-
-    def _set_compiler(self, compiler):
-        if not isinstance(compiler, str) and compiler is not None:
-            # we don't want to allow that anymore in the future
-            warn("'compiler' specifies the compiler type in build_ext. "
-                 "If you want to get the compiler object itself, "
-                 "use 'compiler_obj'", DeprecationWarning)
-        self._compiler = compiler
-
-    def _get_compiler(self):
-        if not isinstance(self._compiler, str) and self._compiler is not None:
-            # we don't want to allow that anymore in the future
-            warn("'compiler' specifies the compiler type in build_ext. "
-                 "If you want to get the compiler object itself, "
-                 "use 'compiler_obj'", DeprecationWarning)
-        return self._compiler
-
-    compiler = property(_get_compiler, _set_compiler)
-
-    def initialize_options(self):
+    def initialize_options (self):
         self.extensions = None
         self.build_lib = None
         self.plat_name = None
@@ -172,7 +129,8 @@
         self.user = None
 
     def finalize_options(self):
-        _sysconfig = __import__('sysconfig')
+        from distutils import sysconfig
+
         self.set_undefined_options('build',
                                    ('build_lib', 'build_lib'),
                                    ('build_temp', 'build_temp'),
@@ -189,8 +147,8 @@
 
         # Make sure Python's include directories (for Python.h, pyconfig.h,
         # etc.) are in the include search path.
-        py_include = _sysconfig.get_path('include')
-        plat_py_include = _sysconfig.get_path('platinclude')
+        py_include = sysconfig.get_python_inc()
+        plat_py_include = sysconfig.get_python_inc(plat_specific=1)
         if self.include_dirs is None:
             self.include_dirs = self.distribution.include_dirs or []
         if isinstance(self.include_dirs, str):
@@ -211,13 +169,13 @@
             self.libraries = []
         if self.library_dirs is None:
             self.library_dirs = []
-        elif isinstance(self.library_dirs, str):
-            self.library_dirs = self.library_dirs.split(os.pathsep)
+        elif type(self.library_dirs) is StringType:
+            self.library_dirs = string.split(self.library_dirs, os.pathsep)
 
         if self.rpath is None:
             self.rpath = []
-        elif isinstance(self.rpath, str):
-            self.rpath = self.rpath.split(os.pathsep)
+        elif type(self.rpath) is StringType:
+            self.rpath = string.split(self.rpath, os.pathsep)
 
         # for extensions under windows use different directories
         # for Release and Debug builds.
@@ -268,7 +226,7 @@
             if sys.executable.startswith(os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, "bin")):
                 # building third party extensions
                 self.library_dirs.append(os.path.join(sys.prefix, "lib",
-                                  "python" + _sysconfig.get_python_version(),
+                                                      "python" + get_python_version(),
                                                       "config"))
             else:
                 # building python standard extensions
@@ -276,13 +234,13 @@
 
         # for extensions under Linux or Solaris with a shared Python library,
         # Python's library directory must be appended to library_dirs
-        _sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')
+        sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')
         if ((sys.platform.startswith('linux') or sys.platform.startswith('gnu')
              or sys.platform.startswith('sunos'))
-            and _sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')):
+            and sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED')):
             if sys.executable.startswith(os.path.join(sys.exec_prefix, "bin")):
                 # building third party extensions
-                self.library_dirs.append(_sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR'))
+                self.library_dirs.append(sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR'))
             else:
                 # building python standard extensions
                 self.library_dirs.append('.')
@@ -294,7 +252,7 @@
 
         if self.define:
             defines = self.define.split(',')
-            self.define = [(symbol, '1') for symbol in defines]
+            self.define = map(lambda symbol: (symbol, '1'), defines)
 
         # The option for macros to undefine is also a string from the
         # option parsing, but has to be a list.  Multiple symbols can also
@@ -345,50 +303,38 @@
 
         # Setup the CCompiler object that we'll use to do all the
         # compiling and linking
-
-        # used to prevent the usage of an existing compiler for the
-        # compiler option when calling new_compiler()
-        # this will be removed in 3.3 and 2.8
-        if not isinstance(self._compiler, str):
-            self._compiler = None
-
-        self.compiler_obj = new_compiler(compiler=self._compiler,
-                                         verbose=self.verbose,
-                                         dry_run=self.dry_run,
-                                         force=self.force)
-
-        # used to keep the compiler object reachable with
-        # "self.compiler". this will be removed in 3.3 and 2.8
-        self._compiler = self.compiler_obj
-
-        customize_compiler(self.compiler_obj)
+        self.compiler = new_compiler(compiler=self.compiler,
+                                     verbose=self.verbose,
+                                     dry_run=self.dry_run,
+                                     force=self.force)
+        customize_compiler(self.compiler)
         # If we are cross-compiling, init the compiler now (if we are not
         # cross-compiling, init would not hurt, but people may rely on
         # late initialization of compiler even if they shouldn't...)
         if os.name == 'nt' and self.plat_name != get_platform():
-            self.compiler_obj.initialize(self.plat_name)
+            self.compiler.initialize(self.plat_name)
 
         # And make sure that any compile/link-related options (which might
         # come from the command-line or from the setup script) are set in
         # that CCompiler object -- that way, they automatically apply to
         # all compiling and linking done here.
         if self.include_dirs is not None:
-            self.compiler_obj.set_include_dirs(self.include_dirs)
+            self.compiler.set_include_dirs(self.include_dirs)
         if self.define is not None:
             # 'define' option is a list of (name,value) tuples
             for (name, value) in self.define:
-                self.compiler_obj.define_macro(name, value)
+                self.compiler.define_macro(name, value)
         if self.undef is not None:
             for macro in self.undef:
-                self.compiler_obj.undefine_macro(macro)
+                self.compiler.undefine_macro(macro)
         if self.libraries is not None:
-            self.compiler_obj.set_libraries(self.libraries)
+            self.compiler.set_libraries(self.libraries)
         if self.library_dirs is not None:
-            self.compiler_obj.set_library_dirs(self.library_dirs)
+            self.compiler.set_library_dirs(self.library_dirs)
         if self.rpath is not None:
-            self.compiler_obj.set_runtime_library_dirs(self.rpath)
+            self.compiler.set_runtime_library_dirs(self.rpath)
         if self.link_objects is not None:
-            self.compiler_obj.set_link_objects(self.link_objects)
+            self.compiler.set_link_objects(self.link_objects)
 
         # Now actually compile and link everything.
         self.build_extensions()
@@ -500,17 +446,11 @@
         self.check_extensions_list(self.extensions)
 
         for ext in self.extensions:
-            try:
-                self.build_extension(ext)
-            except (CCompilerError, DistutilsError, CompileError), e:
-                if not ext.optional:
-                    raise
-                self.warn('building extension "%s" failed: %s' %
-                          (ext.name, e))
+            self.build_extension(ext)
 
     def build_extension(self, ext):
         sources = ext.sources
-        if sources is None or not isinstance(sources, (list, tuple)):
+        if sources is None or type(sources) not in (ListType, TupleType):
             raise DistutilsSetupError, \
                   ("in 'ext_modules' option (extension '%s'), " +
                    "'sources' must be present and must be " +
@@ -550,13 +490,13 @@
         for undef in ext.undef_macros:
             macros.append((undef,))
 
-        objects = self.compiler_obj.compile(sources,
-                                            output_dir=self.build_temp,
-                                            macros=macros,
-                                            include_dirs=ext.include_dirs,
-                                            debug=self.debug,
-                                            extra_postargs=extra_args,
-                                            depends=ext.depends)
+        objects = self.compiler.compile(sources,
+                                         output_dir=self.build_temp,
+                                         macros=macros,
+                                         include_dirs=ext.include_dirs,
+                                         debug=self.debug,
+                                         extra_postargs=extra_args,
+                                         depends=ext.depends)
 
         # XXX -- this is a Vile HACK!
         #
@@ -577,9 +517,9 @@
         extra_args = ext.extra_link_args or []
 
         # Detect target language, if not provided
-        language = ext.language or self.compiler_obj.detect_language(sources)
+        language = ext.language or self.compiler.detect_language(sources)
 
-        self.compiler_obj.link_shared_object(
+        self.compiler.link_shared_object(
             objects, ext_path,
             libraries=self.get_libraries(ext),
             library_dirs=ext.library_dirs,
@@ -591,12 +531,14 @@
             target_lang=language)
 
 
-    def swig_sources(self, sources, extension):
+    def swig_sources (self, sources, extension):
+
         """Walk the list of source files in 'sources', looking for SWIG
         interface (.i) files.  Run SWIG on all that are found, and
         return a modified 'sources' list with SWIG source files replaced
         by the generated C (or C++) files.
         """
+
         new_sources = []
         swig_sources = []
         swig_targets = {}
@@ -645,7 +587,9 @@
 
         return new_sources
 
-    def find_swig(self):
+    # swig_sources ()
+
+    def find_swig (self):
         """Return the name of the SWIG executable.  On Unix, this is
         just "swig" -- it should be in the PATH.  Tries a bit harder on
         Windows.
@@ -674,6 +618,8 @@
                   ("I don't know how to find (much less run) SWIG "
                    "on platform '%s'") % os.name
 
+    # find_swig ()
+
     # -- Name generators -----------------------------------------------
     # (extension names, filenames, whatever)
     def get_ext_fullpath(self, ext_name):
@@ -682,9 +628,14 @@
         The file is located in `build_lib` or directly in the package
         (inplace option).
         """
+        # makes sure the extension name is only using dots
+        all_dots = string.maketrans('/'+os.sep, '..')
+        ext_name = ext_name.translate(all_dots)
+
         fullname = self.get_ext_fullname(ext_name)
         modpath = fullname.split('.')
-        filename = self.get_ext_filename(modpath[-1])
+        filename = self.get_ext_filename(ext_name)
+        filename = os.path.split(filename)[-1]
 
         if not self.inplace:
             # no further work needed
@@ -717,18 +668,18 @@
         of the file from which it will be loaded (eg. "foo/bar.so", or
         "foo\bar.pyd").
         """
-        _sysconfig = __import__('sysconfig')
-        ext_path = ext_name.split('.')
+        from distutils.sysconfig import get_config_var
+        ext_path = string.split(ext_name, '.')
         # OS/2 has an 8 character module (extension) limit :-(
         if os.name == "os2":
             ext_path[len(ext_path) - 1] = ext_path[len(ext_path) - 1][:8]
         # extensions in debug_mode are named 'module_d.pyd' under windows
-        so_ext = _sysconfig.get_config_var('SO')
+        so_ext = get_config_var('SO')
         if os.name == 'nt' and self.debug:
-            return os.path.join(*ext_path) + '_d' + so_ext
+            return apply(os.path.join, ext_path) + '_d' + so_ext
         return os.path.join(*ext_path) + so_ext
 
-    def get_export_symbols(self, ext):
+    def get_export_symbols (self, ext):
         """Return the list of symbols that a shared extension has to
         export.  This either uses 'ext.export_symbols' or, if it's not
         provided, "init" + module_name.  Only relevant on Windows, where
@@ -739,7 +690,7 @@
             ext.export_symbols.append(initfunc_name)
         return ext.export_symbols
 
-    def get_libraries(self, ext):
+    def get_libraries (self, ext):
         """Return the list of libraries to link against when building a
         shared extension.  On most platforms, this is just 'ext.libraries';
         on Windows and OS/2, we add the Python library (eg. python20.dll).
@@ -751,7 +702,7 @@
         # Append '_d' to the python import library on debug builds.
         if sys.platform == "win32":
             from distutils.msvccompiler import MSVCCompiler
-            if not isinstance(self.compiler_obj, MSVCCompiler):
+            if not isinstance(self.compiler, MSVCCompiler):
                 template = "python%d%d"
                 if self.debug:
                     template = template + '_d'
@@ -783,13 +734,14 @@
             # extensions, it is a reference to the original list
             return ext.libraries + [pythonlib]
         elif sys.platform[:6] == "atheos":
-            _sysconfig = __import__('sysconfig')
+            from distutils import sysconfig
+
             template = "python%d.%d"
             pythonlib = (template %
                    (sys.hexversion >> 24, (sys.hexversion >> 16) & 0xff))
             # Get SHLIBS from Makefile
             extra = []
-            for lib in _sysconfig.get_config_var('SHLIBS').split():
+            for lib in sysconfig.get_config_var('SHLIBS').split():
                 if lib.startswith('-l'):
                     extra.append(lib[2:])
                 else:
@@ -803,11 +755,13 @@
             return ext.libraries
 
         else:
-            _sysconfig = __import__('sysconfig')
-            if _sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED'):
+            from distutils import sysconfig
+            if sysconfig.get_config_var('Py_ENABLE_SHARED'):
                 template = "python%d.%d"
                 pythonlib = (template %
                              (sys.hexversion >> 24, (sys.hexversion >> 16) & 0xff))
                 return ext.libraries + [pythonlib]
             else:
                 return ext.libraries
+
+# class build_ext
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/install.py b/Lib/distutils/command/install.py
index fb17b4f..44c7692 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/install.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/install.py
@@ -2,22 +2,26 @@
 
 Implements the Distutils 'install' command."""
 
+from distutils import log
+
+# This module should be kept compatible with Python 2.1.
+
 __revision__ = "$Id$"
 
-import sys
-import os
-
-from sysconfig import get_config_vars, get_paths, get_path, get_config_var
-
-from distutils import log
+import sys, os, string
+from types import *
 from distutils.core import Command
 from distutils.debug import DEBUG
+from distutils.sysconfig import get_config_vars
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsPlatformError
 from distutils.file_util import write_file
-from distutils.util import convert_path, change_root, get_platform
+from distutils.util import convert_path, subst_vars, change_root
+from distutils.util import get_platform
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsOptionError
+from site import USER_BASE
+from site import USER_SITE
 
-# kept for backward compat, will be removed in 3.2
+
 if sys.version < "2.2":
     WINDOWS_SCHEME = {
         'purelib': '$base',
@@ -95,19 +99,13 @@
         },
     }
 
+# The keys to an installation scheme; if any new types of files are to be
+# installed, be sure to add an entry to every installation scheme above,
+# and to SCHEME_KEYS here.
 SCHEME_KEYS = ('purelib', 'platlib', 'headers', 'scripts', 'data')
-# end of backward compat
 
-def _subst_vars(s, local_vars):
-    try:
-        return s.format(**local_vars)
-    except KeyError:
-        try:
-            return s.format(**os.environ)
-        except KeyError, var:
-            raise AttributeError('{%s}' % var)
 
-class install(Command):
+class install (Command):
 
     description = "install everything from build directory"
 
@@ -119,6 +117,8 @@
          "(Unix only) prefix for platform-specific files"),
         ('home=', None,
          "(Unix only) home directory to install under"),
+        ('user', None,
+         "install in user site-package '%s'" % USER_SITE),
 
         # Or, just set the base director(y|ies)
         ('install-base=', None,
@@ -170,17 +170,12 @@
          "filename in which to record list of installed files"),
         ]
 
-    boolean_options = ['compile', 'force', 'skip-build']
-
-    user_options.append(('user', None,
-                        "install in user site-package '%s'" % \
-                            get_path('purelib', '%s_user' % os.name)))
-    boolean_options.append('user')
+    boolean_options = ['compile', 'force', 'skip-build', 'user']
     negative_opt = {'no-compile' : 'compile'}
 
 
-    def initialize_options(self):
-        """Initializes options."""
+    def initialize_options (self):
+
         # High-level options: these select both an installation base
         # and scheme.
         self.prefix = None
@@ -205,8 +200,8 @@
         self.install_lib = None         # set to either purelib or platlib
         self.install_scripts = None
         self.install_data = None
-        self.install_userbase = get_config_var('userbase')
-        self.install_usersite = get_path('purelib', '%s_user' % os.name)
+        self.install_userbase = USER_BASE
+        self.install_usersite = USER_SITE
 
         self.compile = None
         self.optimize = None
@@ -256,8 +251,8 @@
     # party Python modules on various platforms given a wide
     # array of user input is decided.  Yes, it's quite complex!)
 
-    def finalize_options(self):
-        """Finalizes options."""
+    def finalize_options (self):
+
         # This method (and its pliant slaves, like 'finalize_unix()',
         # 'finalize_other()', and 'select_scheme()') is where the default
         # installation directories for modules, extension modules, and
@@ -315,10 +310,8 @@
         # $platbase in the other installation directories and not worry
         # about needing recursive variable expansion (shudder).
 
-        py_version = sys.version.split()[0]
-        prefix, exec_prefix, srcdir = get_config_vars('prefix', 'exec_prefix',
-                                                      'srcdir')
-
+        py_version = (string.split(sys.version))[0]
+        (prefix, exec_prefix) = get_config_vars('prefix', 'exec_prefix')
         self.config_vars = {'dist_name': self.distribution.get_name(),
                             'dist_version': self.distribution.get_version(),
                             'dist_fullname': self.distribution.get_fullname(),
@@ -329,11 +322,9 @@
                             'prefix': prefix,
                             'sys_exec_prefix': exec_prefix,
                             'exec_prefix': exec_prefix,
-                            'srcdir': srcdir,
+                            'userbase': self.install_userbase,
+                            'usersite': self.install_usersite,
                            }
-
-        self.config_vars['userbase'] = self.install_userbase
-        self.config_vars['usersite'] = self.install_usersite
         self.expand_basedirs()
 
         self.dump_dirs("post-expand_basedirs()")
@@ -399,27 +390,29 @@
         # Punt on doc directories for now -- after all, we're punting on
         # documentation completely!
 
-    def dump_dirs(self, msg):
-        """Dumps the list of user options."""
-        if not DEBUG:
-            return
-        from distutils.fancy_getopt import longopt_xlate
-        log.debug(msg + ":")
-        for opt in self.user_options:
-            opt_name = opt[0]
-            if opt_name[-1] == "=":
-                opt_name = opt_name[0:-1]
-            if opt_name in self.negative_opt:
-                opt_name = self.negative_opt[opt_name]
-                opt_name = opt_name.translate(longopt_xlate)
-                val = not getattr(self, opt_name)
-            else:
-                opt_name = opt_name.translate(longopt_xlate)
-                val = getattr(self, opt_name)
-            log.debug("  %s: %s" % (opt_name, val))
+    # finalize_options ()
 
-    def finalize_unix(self):
-        """Finalizes options for posix platforms."""
+
+    def dump_dirs (self, msg):
+        if DEBUG:
+            from distutils.fancy_getopt import longopt_xlate
+            print msg + ":"
+            for opt in self.user_options:
+                opt_name = opt[0]
+                if opt_name[-1] == "=":
+                    opt_name = opt_name[0:-1]
+                if opt_name in self.negative_opt:
+                    opt_name = string.translate(self.negative_opt[opt_name],
+                                                longopt_xlate)
+                    val = not getattr(self, opt_name)
+                else:
+                    opt_name = string.translate(opt_name, longopt_xlate)
+                    val = getattr(self, opt_name)
+                print "  %s: %s" % (opt_name, val)
+
+
+    def finalize_unix (self):
+
         if self.install_base is not None or self.install_platbase is not None:
             if ((self.install_lib is None and
                  self.install_purelib is None and
@@ -437,10 +430,10 @@
                 raise DistutilsPlatformError(
                     "User base directory is not specified")
             self.install_base = self.install_platbase = self.install_userbase
-            self.select_scheme("posix_user")
+            self.select_scheme("unix_user")
         elif self.home is not None:
             self.install_base = self.install_platbase = self.home
-            self.select_scheme("posix_home")
+            self.select_scheme("unix_home")
         else:
             if self.prefix is None:
                 if self.exec_prefix is not None:
@@ -456,10 +449,13 @@
 
             self.install_base = self.prefix
             self.install_platbase = self.exec_prefix
-            self.select_scheme("posix_prefix")
+            self.select_scheme("unix_prefix")
 
-    def finalize_other(self):
-        """Finalizes options for non-posix platforms"""
+    # finalize_unix ()
+
+
+    def finalize_other (self):          # Windows and Mac OS for now
+
         if self.user:
             if self.install_userbase is None:
                 raise DistutilsPlatformError(
@@ -468,7 +464,7 @@
             self.select_scheme(os.name + "_user")
         elif self.home is not None:
             self.install_base = self.install_platbase = self.home
-            self.select_scheme("posix_home")
+            self.select_scheme("unix_home")
         else:
             if self.prefix is None:
                 self.prefix = os.path.normpath(sys.prefix)
@@ -480,58 +476,61 @@
                 raise DistutilsPlatformError, \
                       "I don't know how to install stuff on '%s'" % os.name
 
-    def select_scheme(self, name):
-        """Sets the install directories by applying the install schemes."""
-        # it's the caller's problem if they supply a bad name!
-        scheme = get_paths(name, expand=False)
-        for key, value in scheme.items():
-            if key == 'platinclude':
-                key = 'headers'
-                value = os.path.join(value, self.distribution.get_name())
-            attrname = 'install_' + key
-            if hasattr(self, attrname):
-                if getattr(self, attrname) is None:
-                    setattr(self, attrname, value)
+    # finalize_other ()
 
-    def _expand_attrs(self, attrs):
+
+    def select_scheme (self, name):
+        # it's the caller's problem if they supply a bad name!
+        scheme = INSTALL_SCHEMES[name]
+        for key in SCHEME_KEYS:
+            attrname = 'install_' + key
+            if getattr(self, attrname) is None:
+                setattr(self, attrname, scheme[key])
+
+
+    def _expand_attrs (self, attrs):
         for attr in attrs:
             val = getattr(self, attr)
             if val is not None:
                 if os.name == 'posix' or os.name == 'nt':
                     val = os.path.expanduser(val)
-                val = _subst_vars(val, self.config_vars)
+                val = subst_vars(val, self.config_vars)
                 setattr(self, attr, val)
 
-    def expand_basedirs(self):
-        """Calls `os.path.expanduser` on install_base, install_platbase and
-        root."""
-        self._expand_attrs(['install_base', 'install_platbase', 'root'])
 
-    def expand_dirs(self):
-        """Calls `os.path.expanduser` on install dirs."""
-        self._expand_attrs(['install_purelib', 'install_platlib',
-                            'install_lib', 'install_headers',
-                            'install_scripts', 'install_data',])
+    def expand_basedirs (self):
+        self._expand_attrs(['install_base',
+                            'install_platbase',
+                            'root'])
 
-    def convert_paths(self, *names):
-        """Call `convert_path` over `names`."""
+    def expand_dirs (self):
+        self._expand_attrs(['install_purelib',
+                            'install_platlib',
+                            'install_lib',
+                            'install_headers',
+                            'install_scripts',
+                            'install_data',])
+
+
+    def convert_paths (self, *names):
         for name in names:
             attr = "install_" + name
             setattr(self, attr, convert_path(getattr(self, attr)))
 
-    def handle_extra_path(self):
-        """Set `path_file` and `extra_dirs` using `extra_path`."""
+
+    def handle_extra_path (self):
+
         if self.extra_path is None:
             self.extra_path = self.distribution.extra_path
 
         if self.extra_path is not None:
-            if isinstance(self.extra_path, str):
-                self.extra_path = self.extra_path.split(',')
+            if type(self.extra_path) is StringType:
+                self.extra_path = string.split(self.extra_path, ',')
 
             if len(self.extra_path) == 1:
                 path_file = extra_dirs = self.extra_path[0]
             elif len(self.extra_path) == 2:
-                path_file, extra_dirs = self.extra_path
+                (path_file, extra_dirs) = self.extra_path
             else:
                 raise DistutilsOptionError, \
                       ("'extra_path' option must be a list, tuple, or "
@@ -540,6 +539,7 @@
             # convert to local form in case Unix notation used (as it
             # should be in setup scripts)
             extra_dirs = convert_path(extra_dirs)
+
         else:
             path_file = None
             extra_dirs = ''
@@ -549,14 +549,17 @@
         self.path_file = path_file
         self.extra_dirs = extra_dirs
 
-    def change_roots(self, *names):
-        """Change the install direcories pointed by name using root."""
+    # handle_extra_path ()
+
+
+    def change_roots (self, *names):
         for name in names:
             attr = "install_" + name
             setattr(self, attr, change_root(self.root, getattr(self, attr)))
 
     def create_home_path(self):
-        """Create directories under ~."""
+        """Create directories under ~
+        """
         if not self.user:
             return
         home = convert_path(os.path.expanduser("~"))
@@ -567,8 +570,8 @@
 
     # -- Command execution methods -------------------------------------
 
-    def run(self):
-        """Runs the command."""
+    def run (self):
+
         # Obviously have to build before we can install
         if not self.skip_build:
             self.run_command('build')
@@ -611,8 +614,9 @@
                        "you'll have to change the search path yourself"),
                        self.install_lib)
 
-    def create_path_file(self):
-        """Creates the .pth file"""
+    # run ()
+
+    def create_path_file (self):
         filename = os.path.join(self.install_libbase,
                                 self.path_file + ".pth")
         if self.install_path_file:
@@ -625,8 +629,8 @@
 
     # -- Reporting methods ---------------------------------------------
 
-    def get_outputs(self):
-        """Assembles the outputs of all the sub-commands."""
+    def get_outputs (self):
+        # Assemble the outputs of all the sub-commands.
         outputs = []
         for cmd_name in self.get_sub_commands():
             cmd = self.get_finalized_command(cmd_name)
@@ -642,8 +646,7 @@
 
         return outputs
 
-    def get_inputs(self):
-        """Returns the inputs of all the sub-commands"""
+    def get_inputs (self):
         # XXX gee, this looks familiar ;-(
         inputs = []
         for cmd_name in self.get_sub_commands():
@@ -652,29 +655,25 @@
 
         return inputs
 
+
     # -- Predicates for sub-command list -------------------------------
 
-    def has_lib(self):
-        """Returns true if the current distribution has any Python
+    def has_lib (self):
+        """Return true if the current distribution has any Python
         modules to install."""
         return (self.distribution.has_pure_modules() or
                 self.distribution.has_ext_modules())
 
-    def has_headers(self):
-        """Returns true if the current distribution has any headers to
-        install."""
+    def has_headers (self):
         return self.distribution.has_headers()
 
-    def has_scripts(self):
-        """Returns true if the current distribution has any scripts to.
-        install."""
+    def has_scripts (self):
         return self.distribution.has_scripts()
 
-    def has_data(self):
-        """Returns true if the current distribution has any data to.
-        install."""
+    def has_data (self):
         return self.distribution.has_data_files()
 
+
     # 'sub_commands': a list of commands this command might have to run to
     # get its work done.  See cmd.py for more info.
     sub_commands = [('install_lib',     has_lib),
@@ -683,3 +682,5 @@
                     ('install_data',    has_data),
                     ('install_egg_info', lambda self:True),
                    ]
+
+# class install