Mailman 3 April 2011 - Edu-sig

xturtle online via processing.js !?
by Jurgis Pralgauskis 27 Sep '12

27 Sep '12

Hi, I am struggling around with interactive online py tutorials with https://launchpad.net/projects/intro-to-code (ith might become securely sandboxed soon, as pypy made it possible http://blog.sandbox.lt/en/WSGI%20and%20PyPy%20sandbox :) but one more thing is I'd like to let access xturtle functionality online - one possible way could be triggering tkinter to save its canvas to ps, and then convert them with imagemagic and show via web (animated gif or static) - but if pyjamas can render GUI for js (http://www.google.lt/search?&q=pyjamas+python ), mayby there is a way to **translate turtle commands to processing.js analogues** http://ejohn.org/blog/processingjs/ would it be difficult -- how do you think? -- Jurgis Pralgauskis tel: 8-616 77613; jabber: jurgis(a)akl.lt; skype: dz0rdzas; Don't worry, be happy and make things better ;) http://sagemath.visiems.lt

4 6

re Python's "batteries included" meme
by kirby urner 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

As I watch students struggle with the: if __name__ == "__main__": concept (where to put it, what it does), it occurs to me we could be doing more to leverage the already well-worn "batteries included." What's different about Python? The rich libraries it comes with, including a cross-platform GUI IDE. That's one meaning of "batteries included". But in another sense we could speak of the generic module as a "battery" with the "if run top-level" logic having to do with battery *testing*. ==== python module ==== [ BATTERIES ] (functions, classes, global-to-module names...) if __name__ == "__main__": [ BATTERY TESTERS ] ==================== That changes the meaning a little more, to where each Python module is like "a battery pack" with its own set of "testers". One thing we do with battery packs is we "import" (promote) their internals within a top-level namespace that starts off in some other (alien) module. Another thing we do with battery packs is run them top-level namespaces on their own, perhaps depending on imports (outsourced resources). I'm not suggesting harping on this too much, just another slide that goes by, but a fun mnemonic, and reinforcing of an already approved / useful design pattern (see my previous post in this edu-sig archive for an example of this self-testing style, relying on doctest for services). Kirby

2 12

MOTD re CS
by Kirby Urner 28 Apr '11

28 Apr '11

Cutting and pasting the O'Reilly School of Technology server's MOTD: """ Computer science: (1) A study akin to numerology and astrology, but lacking the precision of the former and the success of the latter. (2) The protracted value analysis of algorithms. (3) The costly enumeration of the obvious. (4) The boring art of coping with a large number of trivialities. (5) Tautology harnessed in the service of Man at the speed of light. (6) The Post-Turing decline in formal systems theory. """ Tongue in cheek of course. Another one of those MOTDs went to a Wittgenstein list where I also post. Kirby PS: fodder for the Python Diversity list, except I won't be the one to post it: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/03/25/scott-adam-sexist-mens-rights/

1 0

Platonic / Archimedean / Catalan Solids in Blender
by Lee Harr 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

Hi; I know some of you like exploring geometry with Python. The latest Blender 2.57 includes a python add-on for generating a huge list of different types of geometric solids. To try it out, you need to enable the add-on. - start Blender - click on File -> User Preferences... - click on Add Ons near the top - click on Add Mesh on the left - check Add Mesh: Regular Solids (Also, look around. Many other cool things available.) - close User Preferences window - click on Main menu -> Add -> Mesh -> Solids (Can select specific solid, or just choose solid. Panel will open on the left allowing real-time adjustments) So, now you may be interested in how this is done with Python. - in top menu, next to Help menu, mouse over until it says "Choose Screen lay-out" - click and choose Scripting - top left panel is Text editor, click Text -> Open - browse to blender install directory - click 2.57 -> scripts -> add-ons -> add_mesh_solid.py The scripts seem to be pretty well commented. You can make changes, click "Run Script" and a new menu will appear alongside the Solids menu running your changed code.

2 1

Re: [Edu-sig] anyone using Python with Sketchup (free Google tool)?
by Lee Harr 20 Apr '11

20 Apr '11

Is there an advantage to using SketchUp over Blender? I tried getting in to SketchUp a few times but I never got to the point where I could do anything very interesting. Also, it is not really free. SketchUp Pro cost about $500. Blender, on the other hand is totally free, and has Python built right in. There is an editor where you can write Python scripts. They have put in a huge amount of work on the Python API for their new 2.5 series. There is also an interactive interpreter window built in.

2 2

PSF Brochure - call for submissions
by Vern Ceder 19 Apr '11

19 Apr '11

Hi everyone, In chatting with Charlie Clark and others today, it came up that we aren't doing as much as we might to promote the successes of Python in education. So I agreed to pass along to this list the call for content for the PSF brochure. Please feel free to write up your successes with Python and submit them. They will be considered for inclusion in the brochure as mentioned in the call for submissions below. Cheers, Vern Call for submissions for promotional brochure A new PSF project aims to create professional quality promotional material about Python. The first goal is to create a brochure to showcase the many ways Python is used. It will include use cases to highlight the ways the language allows users to accomplish their tasks both in educational and in professional settings. Project team members Marc-André Lemburg, Jan Ulrich Hasecke, and Armin Stross-Radschinski created this Plone marketing brochure for the German Zope User Group. It is the inspiration for this new project. Community feedback and awareness is vitally important for the success of this initiative, mainly to gather information to be used in the brochure. We are especially looking for interesting projects that can be discussed as use-cases. If you have any suggestions for information to include in the brochure, please contact Marc-André Lemburg or send an email to brochure AT getpython DOT info. UPDATE: more information about the brochure, including a newsletter, can be found here - http://brochure.getpython.info/ -- Vern Ceder vceder(a)gmail.com, vceder(a)dogsinmotion.com The Quick Python Book, 2nd Ed - http://bit.ly/bRsWDW

5 7

anyone using Python with Sketchup (free Google tool)?
by kirby urner 17 Apr '11

17 Apr '11

sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2009/02/supy-scripting-sketchup-in-python.html

2 2

demented Python...
by kirby urner 04 Apr '11

04 Apr '11

In calling something "demented" I'm coming off the namespace used around genres of cartoon. Cartoons I'd consider demented: Pinky and the Brain Ren and Stimpy Teenage Aqua Hunger Force (Kevin Altis of PythonCard a fan) SpongeBob SquarePants ... (see clips on Youtube for any/all) Synonyms for demented: zany, surreal Relevant: links to "grossology" in EuroPython presentation: http://www.4dsolutions.net/presentations/connectingthedots.pdf (see string.Template Mad Libs) Likewise, Demented Python serves a didactic function, here to remind about the decorator: def sillystrip( f ): if f.__doc__: f.__doc__ = "Your function has been hacked!" else: f.__doc__ = "You should always have a docstring." return f @sillystrip def square( x ): """could also be a triangle""" return x * x def _test(): frank = 2 joe = square (frank) # frank is kinda square print("Hello Joe, Frank here.") print(square.__doc__) if __name__ == "__main__": _test() Usage: >>> ================================ RESTART ================================ >>> Hello Joe, Frank here. Your function has been hacked! Then comment out the docstring in the def of square. >>> ================================ RESTART ================================ >>> Hello Joe, Frank here. You should always have a docstring.

4 5