Installing py25-matplotlib fails

[skip at pobox.com]

I'm unable to install the py25-matplotlib port on my Leopard box.  It chunks
along for awhile installing various things then barfs on py25-hashlib:

    --->  Fetching py25-hashlib
    --->  Verifying checksum(s) for py25-hashlib
    --->  Extracting py25-hashlib
    --->  Configuring py25-hashlib
    --->  Building py25-hashlib with target build
    Error: Target org.macports.build returned: shell command " cd "/opt/local/var/macports/build/_opt_local_var_macports_sources_rsync.macports.org_release_ports_python_py25-hashlib/work/Python-2.5.2/Modules" && /opt/local/bin/python2.5 setup.py build " returned error 1
    Command output: running build
    running build_ext
    building '_hashlib' extension
    creating build
    creating build/temp.macosx-10.3-i386-2.5
    -DNDEBUG -g -fwrapv -O3 -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -I/opt/local/include -I/opt/local/include/python2.5 -c _hashopenssl.c -o build/temp.macosx-10.3-i386-2.5/_hashopenssl.o
    unable to execute -DNDEBUG: No such file or directory
    error: command '-DNDEBUG' failed with exit status 1

    Error: The following dependencies failed to build: py25-numpy py25-hashlib py25-tkinter tcl tk
    Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.

It seems like the system is forgetting to put "gcc" at the front of the
command line when building Python extensions.  This same problem was
reported here not that long ago (maybe a month).  I sort of thought it would
be sorted out by now but I don't recall seeing anything about a fix.  I'm
running a "sudo port upgrade outdated" now just in case I missed something,
but I'm skeptical much will change.

Any thoughs on this problem?

-- 
Skip Montanaro - skip at pobox.com - http://www.webfast.com/~skip/