MacOS 12.3.1 (Monterey) lyx2lyx script fails to convert

[Stephan Witt]

Am 19.04.2022 um 11:12 schrieb Pavel Sanda via lyx-users <lyx-users at lists.lyx.org>:
> 
> On Tue, Apr 19, 2022 at 08:10:30AM +0200, Stephan Witt wrote:
>>>> Now you have to install Python yourself. You may download it from python.org (https://www.python.org/downloads/macos/). Alternatively you may run python in a terminal window and choose to install it from Apple. I recommend the first option.
>>> 
>>> Not sure if I understand it correctly - any up to date mac system won't run lyx 2.3.6.2 (or rather its pythonic parts) anymore?
>>> If this is the case we should add some info directly to https://www.lyx.org/Download ?
>> 
>> Yes, that would be appropriate. 
> 
> We should probably do that, I don't understand the details to write it on my own though.

The only hard fact is the removal of /usr/bin/python (and all the libraries and eggs). So there is no out-of-the-box python anymore.

LyX is trying to use python3 while looking for python. This one (/usr/bin/python3) is present for a long time and a stub to ask for install of it. The real python3 is part of the developer tools and can be download from Apple freely. Of course other alternatives are available. The „official“ one from python.org or the python from homebrew or macports.

What the best choice for the user is depends on its background, IMO.

>> At the time macOS 12 (Monterey) came out I verified the presence of python. It was there and had version 2.7.18. While the installation of macOS update to 12.3 the python installation will be removed.
>> 
>> Apple provides python3 but it is not preinstalled anymore. There is only a stub executable asking for download and installation of it:
>> 
>> On reconfigure LyX checks for a usable python and triggers the popup window with the opportunity to install python3. If the user responds with ???Install??? and the download and install succeeds LyX has to be restarted and is usable after reconfigure.
>> 
>> I didn???t try yet how it goes if an existing LyX installation looses the python executable. I want to try that next. But all these experiments are time consuming as I have to do them in virtual machines.
> 
> I have mac with 12.1 on my desk, which I avoid touching. It has some older version of LyX with both python 2 & 3 installed as I just checked.
> Is there something I can do for you?

Thank you, but I think the time consuming option with virtual machines is the better one.

Currently I have Monterey 12.1 with MacTeX and LyX 2.3.6.2 up and running. Next step is the update to 12.3.1 …

Stephan