Mailman 3 October 2006 - Edu-sig

Python for Halloween
by kirby urner 21 Oct '07

21 Oct '07

Something about using 'ghost' in place of 'self' in a Shell class (allusion to anime as well). Maybe I did something like this last year (having deja vu again). But I'm realizing edu-sig is no longer a preferred venue for my curriculum writing. I'd rather huddle with MIT, Bruce Sherwood, Alan Kay and play *against* Arthur's team. Arthur, you make too many enemies too quickly and too easily. Even more, I'm into my Portland Knowledge Lab (PKL) business (gotta pay that rent today) and want to make lots of Python and Synergetics teaching cartoons for HDTV (my Saturday Morning meme), with lots of brand name sponsors. But here is not the place to brainstorm in safety. Too many prying eyes and self-appointed kibbitzers. So I'm actually resigning this time. Don't expect me back any time soon. Probably won't be tracking either, at least not with any frequency. For me, it's a tilt towards private lists and closed source development (not exclusively -- I'm still a big supporter of a strong public sector). I'm learning why open source is a bad idea sometimes. I've talked to Stallman about this, though he probably doesn't remember -- I was in his audience in Portland and asked about situations when "they" simply *don't deserve* your best code. But I think more it's a matter of not wanting to show unfinished work (a big no no in Fuller's self discipline, according to 'Critical Path' I think it was). Kirby

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Pre-PEP was: The fate of raw_input() in Python 3000
by Andre Roberge 07 Jan '07

07 Jan '07

Hi-all, Having had a look at the discussion on the Python-3000 mailing list, I thought it was appropriate to write a draft PEP with the intent of eventually posting it on the Python 3000 list for "serious" discussion/future decision. This proposal could most certainly be strengthened, and the wording improved by a native English speaker with stronger CS background than I have. I have attempted to follow the standard recommended format (including providing both a motivation and rationale ... which seemed a bit redundant and an artificial split...) Feel free to make comments for improvement and even take over the "ownership" of this PEP. André ========================================= PEP: XXX Title: Simple input built-in in Python 3000 Version: $Revision: 0.1 $ Last-Modified: $Date: 2006/09/13 20:00:00 $ Author: André Roberge <andre.roberge(a)gmail.com> Status: Draft Type: Standards Track Content-Type: text/x-rst Created: 13-Sep-2006 Python-Version: 3.0 Post-History: Abstract ======== Input and output are core features of computer programs. Currently, Python provides a simple means of output through the print keyword and two simple means of input throught the input() and raw_input() built-in functions. Python 3.0 will introduces various incompatible changes with previous Python versions[1]. Among the proposed changes, print will become a built-in function, print(), while input() and raw_input() would be removed completely from the built-in namespace, requiring importing some module to provide even the most basic input capability. This PEP proposes that Python 3.0 retains some simple user input capability, equivalent to raw_input(), within the built-in namespace. Motivation ========== With its easy readability and its support for many programming styles (e.g. procedural, object-oriented, etc.) among others, Python is perhaps the best computer language to use in introductory programming classes. Simple programs most often need to contain a means to provide information to a user (output) as well as obtaining information from that user (input). Any computer language intended to be used in an educational setting should provide straightforward methods for both input and output. The current proposals for Python 3.0 [1] include a simple output pathway via a built-in function named print(), but a more complicated method for input [e.g. via sys.stdin.readline()], one that requires importing an external module. Current versions of Python (pre-3.0) include raw_input() as a built-in function. With the availability of such a function, programs that require simple input/output can be written from day one, without requiring discussions of importing modules, streams, etc. Rationale ========= Current built-in functions, like input() and raw_input(), are found to be extremely useful in traditional teaching settings. (For more details, see the discussion that followed [3].) While the BDFL has clearly stated [3] that input() was not to be kept in Python 3000, he has also stated that he was not against revising the decision of killing raw_input(). raw_input() provides a simple mean to ask a question and obtain information from a user. The proposed plans for Python 3.0 would require the replacement of the single statement speed = raw_input("What is the average airspeed velocity of an unladed swallow?") by the more complicated import sys print("What is the average airspeed velocity of an unladed swallow?") speed = sys.stdin.readline() The removal of raw_input (or equivalent) would not significantly reduce the built-in namespace while it would steepen significantly the learning curve for beginners. Specification ============= The built-in input function should be totally equivalent to the existing raw_input() function. Open issues =========== With input() effectively removed from the language, the name raw_input() makes much less sense and alternatives should be considered. The various possibilities mentioned in various forums include: ask() ask_user() get_string() input() # rejected by Guido prompt() read() user_input() References ========== .. [1] Miscellaneous Python 3.0 Plans (http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3100/) ..[2] The fate of raw_input() in Python 3000 (http://mail.python.org/pipermail/edu-sig/2006-September/006967.html) .. [3] educational aspects of Python 3000 http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-3000/2006-September/003589.html Copyright ========= This document has been placed in the public domain.

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Truth values and comparisons
by Arthur 06 Nov '06

06 Nov '06

Looking for a little education on edu-sig. On one hand I am feeling like a big boy, having announced today on the vpython list that I think I have adequately accomplished the necessary fixes to the vpython C++ code to accomplish compatibility with the newly released numpy 1.0, and in a way that I think in the end (it was a round-about process for me) is straightforward and unlikely to introduce bugs into the existing stable codebase. OTOH, I am learning there is some very basic Python I do not understand. Now having a vpython that runs against numpy, I am learning about some of the changes in the numpy Python API versus that of Numeric and numarray. One basic incompatibility is in that the older libraries did something to give a result in comparing 2 arrays that numpy backs away from - complaining about ambiguity. For example, in the vpython faces_heightfield.py demo there is a line: >>>normal[i] = vertex_map[tp] and norm( vertex_map[ tp ] ) which ran fine under Numeric and numarray, and now fails with a message: """ The truth value of an array with more than one element is ambiguous. Use a.any() or a.all() """ For the purposes of the exercise assume that both "vertex_map[tp]" and "norm( vertex_map[ tp ]" each return one dimensional, 3 element numpy arrays. Not exactly true, but I think the result would be the same if it were. In the original code, what is the "and" doing, and in what way might the "any" or "all" built-ins be used to get the result intended by it? Art

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Accredited training for school teachers?
by Jeff Sandys 26 Oct '06

26 Oct '06

Is there an accredited Python training program for middle or high school teachers. In my experience, teachers will not take additional training unless they can get service or training hours credit. I would like to expose some teachers to Python but they won't take a class from me. Thanks, Jeff ________________________________________________________________________ Try Juno Platinum for Free! Then, only $9.95/month! Unlimited Internet Access with 1GB of Email Storage. Visit http://www.juno.com/value to sign up today!

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python education search engine
by Toby Donaldson 24 Oct '06

24 Oct '06

Hi all, I am playing with the new Google "co-op" search engine feature, and have created a Python education search engine: http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=017583026537348134569%3Axorqs4uwyn4 Volunteers are welcome! Toby -- Dr. Toby Donaldson School of Computing Science Simon Fraser University (Surrey)

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PyDX - announce
by Simon Burton 22 Oct '06

22 Oct '06

Hi, I'd like to let edu-sig know about this project I've been working on. It is too under-documented to be really useful as an educational tool ATM, but a lot of the concepts behind the code are both simple to understand and deeply profound, mathematically. Hence this post to edu-sig. Check it out! PyDX - first public announcement ================================ Overview -------- PyDX is a package for working with calculus (differential geometry), arbitrary precision arithmetic (using gmpy), and interval arithmetic. It provides: * multivariate automatic differentiation (to arbitrary order) * Tensor objects for computations in differential geometry * Interval scalars (based on libMPFI) for calculating rigorous bounds on arithmetic operations (validated numerics). * Arbitrary order validated ODE solver. PyDX uses lazy computation techniques to greatly enhance performance of the resulting functions. This code grew out of a research project at The Australian National University, Department of Physics, which involved computing bounds on geodesics in relativistic space-time's. Documentation ------------- http://gr.anu.edu.au/svn/people/sdburton/pydx/doc/user-guide.html http://gr.anu.edu.au/svn/people/sdburton/pydx/doc/api/index.html Subversion Repository --------------------- http://gr.anu.edu.au/svn/people/sdburton/pydx/ Simon Burton October 22 2006 The Australian National University

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Python in Education planning for PyCon 2007
by Jeffrey Elkner 17 Oct '06

17 Oct '06

Hi All, I've created a link off the PyCon 2007 wiki to use to help us plan for Python in education activities at the conference: http://us.pycon.org/TX2007/PyEdu Please add your name to the list on the page if you are coming. Last year was a very productive one for Python in education. Projects such as RUR-PLE and Crunchy Frog are providing more and better tools for teaching programming with Python. In addition to the EDU BOF dinner we had last year, it would be great if we could have some presentations with a Python in education focus, and perhaps a few project planning meetings and work sessions as well. I'll be bringing two students and a former student who is now a Zope 3 developer. We will be staying for the first two days of the sprints to work on SchoolTool/CanDo. Hope to see you at the conference... jeff elkner

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Re: [Edu-sig] The Fate of VPyton
by ajsiegel＠optonline.net 14 Oct '06

14 Oct '06

Did a litttle googling on the build issues... enough to determine that projects using boost.python seem to be finding that Scons makes the best alternative to a building mechanism of bjam, make or some combination thereof. For example: http://mapnik.org/documentation/install/ Of course with the additional advantage that Scons is Python, so that whatever difficulties are posed, at least it is not learning a new syntax, as someone like myself faces with make or bjam. Willing to invest in learning something about C++ and the Python C API. Enough already. So we are adding Scons build to the next, so far imaginary, generation of vpython. "We" are? Art

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Python 3D Software Collection
by Jason Cunliffe 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

A small collection (73 packages) of pointers to Python software for working in three dimensions http://www.vrplumber.com/py3d.py

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OpenSG
by Jason Cunliffe 12 Oct '06

12 Oct '06

OpenSG is a portable scenegraph system to create realtime graphics programs, e.g. for virtual reality applications. It is developed following Open Source principles (LGPL <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html>) and can be used freely. It runs on Windows, Linux, Solaris and MacOS X and is based on OpenGL <http://www.opengl.org/>. http://opensg.vrsource.org/trac/wiki/WikiStart

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