Why would you need this toolset?

Snow Leopard doesn't ship with all of the dependencies that Plone requires, most notably Python 2.4.  Development of multiple Plone sites can require the use of different versions of Python packages, which could conflict or interact with each other if not kept separate.  (Other approaches may or may not provide enough isolation for your needs - this approach has a high degree of isolation while staying within one operating system.)

Where does this apply?

This procedure is meant for Plone 3 development and test environments using Python Buildout on the Apple Macintosh 10.6 Snow Leopard client.

For multiple Plone 4 sites on Snow Leopard, run the Unified Installer command line utility, which creates isolated environments with fewer steps.

What does this give you?

This procedure will give you a toolset which allows you to have separate environments for varying versions of Plone, Plone products, Zope, Python, and Python packages.  The toolset includes Python 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, & 3.0, VirtualEnv, SetupTools, Bootstrap, ZopeSkel, Paster, Buildout, Zope, ElementTree, PIL, and Plone.  The toolset will allow you to create any number of completely separate environments, so you don't have to worry about interactions or repeatability.  This can help you isolate issues & identify their root cause, by creating a separate environment for each change or variable.

[This will also allow you to create VirtualEnv’s for other Python stack components, for non-Plone projects.]

This procedure is based on a blog post by Florian Schulze.

Steps to install the toolset (one time only)

Install Mac development utilities (recommended)

1. Reboot to reduce risk.
2. Apple's Xcode, which includes FileMerge:

- Register or sign in using your ITunes ID, then download (this will take a few minutes), and double click the file & package to install.

3. MacPorts:

- Download and double click the file & package to install.

Install the toolset

1. In Terminal, go to your home directory or wherever you backup important work.
2. Get the special multiple Python VirtualEnv Buildout code:

svn co http://svn.plone.org/svn/collective/buildout/python/

cd python

3. Use the Snow Leopard built-in Python easy_install to get Setuptools, which includes Bootstrap and Buildout:

sudo easy_install -U setuptools

/usr/bin/python bootstrap.py

4. Build the toolset (this will take a few minutes):

bin/buildout

Now you have the toolset which can create any number of Plone development environments.

Steps to create a virtual environment for Plone (create as many as you like)

Setup a fresh virtual environment

1. Create a virtual Python environment:

Use a short name to avoid a “Socket error: AF_UNIX path too long”, for example: p3.1.7WLEnv01.
(For a naming convention, I use "p" to mean "Plone", 3.1.7 for the Plone version, "WL" for the customer name, "Env" for environment, and "01" so that 99 variations will still sort nicely in a list.)


bin/virtualenv-2.4 p3.1.7WLEnv01

2. Enter the virtual Python environment:

cd p3.1.7WLEnv01

[Do not sudo from this point forward.]

3. Install the Python Image Library:

bin/easy_install-2.4 -f http://dist.repoze.org/ -U PIL==1.1.6

4. Install the templates/skeletons needed to create a Plone Buildout in your virtual environment:

bin/easy_install-2.4 ZopeSkel

Create a Zope instance (typically one per virtual environment)

1. Create a template/skeleton for a Zope instance for Plone 3:

Use a short name to avoid a “Socket error: AF_UNIX path too long”, for example: p3.1.7WLZope01:

bin/zopeskel plone3_buildout p3.1.7WLZope01

- Press enter to choose Easy options.
- Enter the Plone version (example: 3.1.7).
- Press enter for default Zope2 Install Path.
- Press enter for default Plone Products Directory.
- Press enter for default Initial Zope Username: admin.
- Choose a password that’s easy to remember, but doesn’t have to be incredibly secure, since it’s local.
- Press enter for default HTTP Port.
- Press enter for default Debug Mode.
- Press enter for default Verbose Security.

2. Enter the Zope directory:

cd p3.1.7WLZope01

3. Install Buildout in this environment:

../bin/python bootstrap.py

[If replicating a site, backup & replace buildout.cfg & Data.fs.]

4. Build the Zope instance (this will take a few minutes):

bin/buildout

Test Zope and add a Plone site

1. Start your Zope instance in foreground mode.  After a bit, you should see the message "INFO Zope Ready to handle requests".

bin/instance fg

2. Browse to http://localhost:8080.  You should see the Zope Quick Start page.
3. Browse to http://localhost:8080/manage and login as admin.
4. Click the drop down near the Add button, and select Plone Site (it will automatically add when selected).
5. Enter a Plone site Id, Title, & Description.
6. Click Add Plone Site.
7. Browse to your new Plone site at http://localhost:8080/[Plone site Id].  You should see the Welcome to Plone home page on your new Plone site.

Celebrate!

Also see other useful Mac software.

Please comment if you can suggest any improvements to this document.