Mailman 3 August 2003 - Edu-sig

Summer Fruits - Proce55ing & PyBot
by Jason Cunliffe 07 Aug '03

07 Aug '03

Some summer fruits you may enjoy... 1. A cool MIT alternative to Flash using Java. An obvious candidate for Jython. "Processing" by Ben Fry and Casey Reas http://www.proce55ing.net/ "Processing is a context for exploring the emerging conceptual space enabled by electronic media. It is an environment for learning the fundamentals of computer programming within the context of the electronic arts and it is an electronic sketchbook for developing ideas. The software is currently in a prerelease stage, but bug fixes are being made as we head toward a more complete "1.0" release. Processing will be free to download and available for Mac, PC, and Linux." 2. PyBot ?? I see there is an amazing new birth in hobbyist electronics based on programmable STAMP devices. Great to see an alternative to LEGO Mindstorms that encourages people to whip out breadboards and soldering irons. The cool thing is there is new lots of good information and tools [hard and soft] to support this kind of activity. Mainstream books stores carry affordable $25 range books. [The local mediocre Barnes and Noble in Brooklyn is crude litmus test]. The first were just battlebots. But now much more varied fare - more emersed in real world interfacing. The coolest one I saw today is "Junkbots". So next time you see a dead calculator, phone, TV/VCR appliance give it a budding junkbot builder. Kids please DO try this at home! STAMP seems to be based on BASIC, but here are others, notably Parallax who offer BASIC/Java/Assembly interface. So naturally I am wondering with PyGame, Jython etc, how near/far is Python today to BotDom ?? KITS & ROBOTICS http://www.parallax.com/ http://www.kitsusa.us/store/index.cfm?frm=prod-view&scid=46 BOOKS The Robot Builders Bonanza [2000] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071362967/qid=1060218185/sr=1 -1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2698402-8575801?v=glance&s=books JunkBots, Bugbots, and Bots on Wheels: Building Simple Robots With BEAM Technology [2002] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0072226013/103-2698402-8575801 ?v=glance#product-details Programming and Customizing the Basic Stamp [2001] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071371923/103-2698402-8575801 ?vi=glance OTHER BOOKS.. Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity [1995] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201442302/qid=1060218293/sr=2-2/ref= sr_2_2/103-2698402-8575801#product-details Where Mathematics Comes From: How the Embodied Mind Brings Mathematics into Being [2001] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465037712/qid=1060218228/sr=1 -1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2698402-8575801?v=glance&s=books - Jason

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Re: PyOpenGL etc. in Python 2.3 (Windows)
by Arthur 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

I wrote - >...little less then trivial (for me) Well, most things are less then trivial, for me. Someone else might have found it *more* than trivial ;). Art

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re: minimal pyopengl
by Arthur 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

BTW, Numeric comes into play in the PyOpenGL build, as an option. The aforementioned minimal PyOpenGL binary distro was built against my tree which included Numeric. I don't know whether this is a runtime or build time option. So Numeric might be required to run the binary distro for Windows that I built. Or it may not be. At any rate: As previously posted here, a binary distro of Numeric, for Windows and Python23 is also available at http://home.ix.netcom.com/~ajs/download/ Art

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Speed
by DanSV＠aol.com 06 Aug '03

06 Aug '03

I am trying to pipe input/output(out&error) from a subprogram to a textbox. I am using the wxWindows for the piping(wxProcess), and onIdle in wxFrame for monitoring the process. I then add text to the wxStyledTextControl I am using for the prompt. This fails to catch all of the output of the program. If there is a lot of output, or it is sent too quickly, it will be missed. This sync problem becomes even worse if I attempt to use threads instead of the onIdle method. What should I do? Try a different piping method? Some alternative to onIdle? Drop python and move to c++?(Shudder) Thanks, Daniel

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More stuff for pre-complied for Windows folks
by Arthur 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

Doing my new disuils trick, the recent mission to make some very Python interesting 3d/educational modules available for Python23 to Windows users without the avaialability of a build environment, or an inclination to take the time. Once built for my own purposes, the marginal effort of making it available to others being neglible. Both the following modules are by: Matthias Baas (baas(a)ira.uka.de) Their capabilities, when used with pygame and pyopengl are shown particularly well in the tutorial code at http://i31www.ira.uka.de/~baas/pyode/tut3.html Self-installing Windows executables are avaiable at: http://home.ix.netcom.com/~ajs/download/ py-ODE....exe is the Python Open Dynamics Engine Wrapper cgkit-1...exe is the Python Computer Graphics Kit Python Open Dynamics Engine Wrapper http://i31www.ira.uka.de/~baas/pyode/ """ The Open Dynamics Engine (ODE) is a free software library for the simulation of Rigid Body Dynamics. You'll find the library at http://opende.sourceforge.net. pyODE is a Python wrapper module that enables you to use ODE from within Python programs. """ AND The Python Computer Graphics Kit http://cgkit.sourceforge.net/ The Python Computer Graphics Kit is a collection of Python modules that contain the basic types and functions to be able to create 3D computer graphics images. The kit mainly focuses on Pixar's RenderMan interface, but some modules can also be used for OpenGL programs or non-RenderMan compliant renderers like POV-Ray, for example. """

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minimal pyopengl
by Arthur 04 Aug '03

04 Aug '03

having wanted to get a bit into pygame having converted to Python23 having some background with and continuing interest in PyOpenGL knowing that pygame supported PyOpenGL there not being a Python23 PyOpenGL distribution as of yet there being a problem building PyOpenGL with Python23, the process bombing out when dealing with togl, the OpenGL context for tkinter which has been a rather temperamental component of PyOpenGL from its beginnings. Needing to prune togl out of the build. And having kept pruning, to get to the more fundamental components of what has become a large, rather complex distribution. I end up with a Minimal PyOpenGL distribution. It has been tested only under Windows, where it succesfully runs the wxPython PyOpenGL demo, the pygame PyOpenGL demo, and the nehe tutorial code available for pygame. The self-installing Windows executable is 175k, versus approx 2.5m for the full Python22 distro. There is also a slightly larger source distro, which should work under Linux - but having done it yet, and probably won't get around to testing it for a few weeks. What there is is avaiable at http://home.ix.netcom.com/~ajs/download/ For anyone who might find it useful. ARt

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Do you teach GNU?
by Jason Cunliffe 01 Aug '03

01 Aug '03

Hi. I've been following the sordid tale of SCOvs.IBM. I found two excellent sites... GROKLAW, a weblog cover legal matters "Putting some meat on legal news' bones." http://radio.weblogs.com/0120124/ and a superb wiki tracking the SCO scandal http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/SCOvsIBM I am beginning to think the SCO debacle it will emerge as the best thing which ever happened to OpenSource and GNU, because by the end of the affair SCO will lose infamously. But also because corporate business, mainstream media, and the courts will all finally understand the legal ethical and programming issues. It's a little like how America learns Geography every time it goes to war [ouch did I say that?]. Anyway, I am very curious to learn if those of you teaching/using Python in schools also take time to discuss GNU and related topics with your students? Stories comments reaction most welcome.. >From a cultural perspective GPL may be one of the most important pieces of programming ever done. Certainly it is Stallman's great hack, one for the history and law books. GPL: The GNU General Public License www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html#GPL "In the GNU project, our aim is to give all users the freedom to redistribute and change GNU software. If middlemen could strip off the freedom, we might have many users, but those users would not have freedom. So instead of putting GNU software in the public domain, we ``copyleft'' it. Copyleft says that anyone who redistributes the software, with or without changes, must pass along the freedom to further copy and change it. Copyleft guarantees that every user has freedom." GPL is not all, but it is the original mountain from which the other collaborative licenses flow and define themselves. thanks Jason ______________________________________________ Jason Cunliffe [NOMADICS: Director art+design] Tel/fax: +1 718 422-1078 jasonic(a)nomadics.org N 43:00.000' W 074:31.875' ALT:1144 ft 84 Henry Street #3C Brooklyn NY 11201 USA http://tranzilla.net/.v

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Re: Has anyone gotten VPython working with Python 2.3
by Arthur 01 Aug '03

01 Aug '03

>I've made a self installing executable for Windows of both Numeric and >Vpython available at http://home.netcom.com/~ajs/download.html BTW, Nice to be able to now run VPython (and PyGeo) scripts using the now standard IDLE. Art

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Re: [Visualpython-users] Has anyone gotten VPython working with Python 2.3 (Windows version) ??
by Arthur 01 Aug '03

01 Aug '03

I've made a self installing executable for Windows of both Numeric and Vpython available at http://home.netcom.com/~ajs/download.html You need both. Should work, although I just put it together and haven't tested thoroughly. Art ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Dickenson" <Bob.Dickenson(a)verizon.net> To: <visualpython-users(a)lists.sourceforge.net> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 11:32 AM Subject: [Visualpython-users] Has anyone gotten VPython working with Python 2.3 (Windows version) ?? > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.Net email sponsored by: Free pre-built ASP.NET sites including > Data Reports, E-commerce, Portals, and Forums are available now. > Download today and enter to win an XBOX or Visual Studio .NET. > http://aspnet.click-url.com/go/psa00100003ave/direct;at.aspnet_072303_01/01 > _______________________________________________ > Visualpython-users mailing list > Visualpython-users(a)lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/visualpython-users

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