Package Management for Spotfire Service for Python

Spotfire Service for Python programmers in your organization can develop their own packages or take advantage of some of the thousands of compatible packages developed by other Python programmers, and then share the analyses that use those functions with Spotfire users in your organization.

The largest and most commonly-used curated repository for Python packages is the Python Package Index (PyPI). Administrators should check with authors to make sure they know the location for needed packages.

Spotfire analysts can create data functions that use these packages, and then share them with either other Spotfire Analyst installations or users of Spotfire Business Author and Consumer connected to the Spotfire Server using a web browser.

  • To share a collection of Python packages and data functions that use them with Spotfire Analyst installations connected to your Spotfire Server, create the Spotfire package (SPK) containing the Python packages, and use the --analyst flag. For more information, see the instructions in the guide Python Data Functions in TIBCO Spotfire®, provided with the Spotfire Analyst documentation. Packages deployed in this manner are distributed to other Spotfire Analyst installations in your organization when they connect to the Spotfire Server where the packages are deployed.
  • To enable data functions that use the code in the Python packages with Spotfire Business Author and Consumer users through a web browser, see Distribute Python Packages. Packages deployed in this manner are on the Spotfire Server node manager where the Spotfire Service for Python is installed.
A Spotfire package must be created using the same operating system as that of the node manager running the Spotfire Service for Python.
Note: The exception to this rule is if you use the provided Docker containers to bundle Python packages for a Linux node manager: you can create this SPK for a Linux deployment on either a Linux computer or on a Windows computer. See Build a Spotfire Package for Spotfire Service for Python (Linux)
  • If your node manager is running on a Windows server, then you can create the SPK either from a Windows computer running Spotfire Analyst, or you can create the SPK from the computer running the node manager where Spotfire Service for Python is installed.
  • If your node manager is running on a Linux server, then you can create the SPK using the provided Docker containers from your desktop computer, or you can create the SPK from the computer running the node manager where Spotfire Service for Python is installed.

The following image shows the workflow for creating an SPK to share Python packages with other analysts, or to enable data functions for Spotfire Business Author and Consumer users.

Spotfire package management workflow

  • Manage Packages Through Roles
    Working with packages in a deployment that includes Spotfire and Spotfire Server can add some complexity to management policies.
  • Using an Alternative Python Package Repository
    If your company keeps an internal repository for approved Python packages, you can set a property in Spotfire Administration Manager to point to the URL for the internal repository.
  • Included Packages
    Your installation of Spotfire includes version 3.8.10 of the Python interpreter and several packages it needs to run under Spotfire. To run the Python interpreter, you must have the 64-bit version of Spotfire.
  • The Spotfire Package (SPK)
    A Spotfire package is usually created and tested by developers to package and deploy third-party extensions to the Spotfire Server, which can then be distributed to Spotfire Analyst users, or distributed to the Spotfire Server node for use by another service.
  • Distribute Python Packages
    You can distribute Python packages by using the Spotfire package (SPK) mechanism for either a Spotfire Server installation with a node manager running on Windows OS, or Spotfire Server installation running a node manager on a supported Linux OS.
  • Use an Alternative Python Interpreter
    You can use a Python interpreter that is different from the one provided with your Spotfire installation by uploading it in a Spotfire package.