Explain what you would like to see improved

The current builtin version of XRootD is v5.3.1 (last updated by @oshadura in PR #7335)

However, in versions of XRootD pre v5.4.1 (released today 2022-02-23) if XRootD is built with the Python bindings enabled with a modern version of setuptools (specifically setuptools v0.60.0+) there will be build warnings from setuptools and an atypical install path given a dependence on the now deprecated easy-install.pth. (c.f. xrootd/xrootd#1579 for lots more details.)

At the moment, this does not affect ROOT at all as ROOT's builtin XRootD explicitly disables the Python bindings

given 2c23502 (from @peremato in 2015). I am unclear on the specifics of explicitly disabling the Python bindings from being built as there is no associated PR for the commit.

If there is not a modern reason for this to stay disabled (my assumption is that there is and I am missing it), updating to XRootD v5.4.1 would allow for the Python bindings to be optionally enabled and to be build safely with the improvements to the Python bindings build process (and also bring along new features and bug fixes).

If there are reasons to keep XRootD below v5.4.X then this Issue can get closed.

Optional: share how it could be improved

Make a PR similar to PR #7335 that would update the builtin to XRootD v5.4.1.

To Reproduce

There isn't a bug explicitly here, but for a discussion on the Python 3 binding and modern setuptools issue that was resolved in XRootD v5.4.1 see the links in additional context.

Setup

Not relevant for this issue, but all instances related to the XRootD issues were tested in ROOT v6.24/06.

Additional context

• Python wheel install.sh is using deprecated instructions as of setuptools v0.60.0 xrootd/xrootd#1579
• https://gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-amglab/atlstats/-/merge_requests/58
• https://gitlab.cern.ch/atlas-amglab/atlstats/-/merge_requests/64