The term "distutils" refers to the "Python Distribution Utilities". Since their introduction in 2000 they have become the standard way to package, distribute and install Python modules and applications.
See http://python.sourceforge.net/devel-docs/dist/dist.html for more information.
The current version of Webware does not use distutils. The transition to a distutils architecture will hopefully be made by Webware 0.8.
users don't need to maintain a local copy of all the Webware modules.
the core modules can be used easily by other frameworks
it can be packaged for Debian and other OS distros.
installs on Windows now make use of the GUI installer.
distutils offers many advanced packaging facilities!
distutils is the Pythonic way to do installs.
-- TavisRudd - 29 Oct 2001