Mailman 3 September 1999 - Python-announce-list

Parrot-0.2.0 - GUI Building Tool
by philh＠vision25.demon.co.uk Sept. 24, 1999

Sept. 24, 1999

[Moderator's note: see below for 0.2.0 announcement] It looks like version 0.0.1 of Parrot, my text-based GUI builder, will be ready within a day or so. It doesn't actually do anything useful yet; v0.0.1 is a technology demonstration version, which is intended to verify that the basic design is more-or-less sensible. Would anyone like to have a look at it, and possibly suggest some improvements? If so, tell me, and I'll put it on my website. Some information about Parrot follows: An introduction to the Parrot GUI building tool. Parrot is a text-based GUI builder, written by Philip Hunt. It is intended to be used by programmers writing GUI applications. To use Parrot, first you create a *.par file describing your application's GUI. Your file might look something like this: -----------Cut here------------------------------- window @MyWindow "My First Window" { menuBar { menu "File" { menuItem @New "New" menuItem @Exit "Exit" } menu "Help" { menuItem @About "About..." } } colLayout { rowLayout { label "First row!" button @Button1 "Press me" button @Button2 "And me" } rowLayout { label "Which units:" radioButton @inchRB "inches" radioButton @feetRB "feet" radioButton @yardRB "yards" radioButton @mileRB "miles" } } } -----------Cut here------------------------------- Then you invoke the Parrot executable: this causes Parrot to create a file containing source code which, when executed, will display your GUI window. What language is Parrot's output written in? That depends on which _backend_ you use. Parrot is written in two parts: a frontend, which reads in a *.par file, like the one shown above, storing it in an internal data format; and a backend, which converts the internal format into code for output. I intend that multiple backends will be written for Parrot; this has two advantages: 1. someone will be able to learn one GUI builder, Parrot, and then use that tool for whatever programming language they are using 2. a GUI application created in Parrot can be translated into several output formats, e.g. if there is a prototype in one language and the real application in another; or if one is porting to a different OS or GUI toolkit. Currently, the only backend is a demonstration one that creates a page of HTML. Planned backends include: * Python using the Tkinter GUI library * the Glade XML format (Glade is a graphical GUI builder which is part of the GNOME project; a Glade XML file can be used to build GNOME applications). * C++ using the Qt GUI library Parrot will also be able to read the Glade XML format and use it to write *.par files. This means that Parrot should be interoperable with Glade -- someone could use the two together to build a GUI. Anyone wishing to contribute other backends will be welcome to do so; hopefully Parrot will eventually encompass all GUI APIs and prgramming languages in common use. Note that if a GUI toolkit doesn't have a visual builder, and someone writes a Parrot backend for that toolkit, then once the Glade XML->parrot translator has been written, Parrot is written in Python. It is copyrighted by philip Hunt and licenced under the GNU GPL. Parrot uses version 0.4 of John Aycock's parsing framework described in his paper _Compiling Little Languages in Python_. == Phil Hunt....philh(a)vision25.demon.co.uk ---------------- >From: philh(a)vision25.demon.co.uk (Phil Hunt) Subject: Parrot-0.2.0 Date: 05 Sep 1999 00:00:00 GMT I've just released Parrot-0.2.0 on my website. Parrot is a text-based GUI builder. To use it, you edit a text file which defines what your GUI application will look like, then you invoke Parrot from the command line; Parrot's output is source code which when run will display the GUI application. Currently Parrot produces Python source code for the Tkinter GUI toolkit; other backends are planned. Parrot is currently pre-alpha software, so don't expect it to be particularly useful yet (or even useful at all). Parrot's homepage is: http://www.vision25.demon.co.uk/prog/parrot.html Parrot is licenced under the GNU GPL. == Phil Hunt - - - - - - - - - philh(a)vision25.demon.co.uk - Linux will be 8 years old on 17th September! See: - http://www.vision25.demon.co.uk/prog/linuxbirthday.html <A HREF="http://www.vision25.demon.co.uk/prog/parrot.html">Parrot 0.2.0</A> - prototype version of a new description-based multi-backend GUI builder; currently supports Tkinter. (05-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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normalDate 0.7
by Jeff Bauer Sept. 24, 1999

Sept. 24, 1999

Hi folks. I don't keep a list of people who use NormalDate, a simple Python date class, but Dan Winkler reminded me today that I neglected to put in __add__, __sub__ methods. For anyone using it, the latest version is available: http://starship.python.net/crew/jbauer/normalDate/ >From the docstring: NormalDate is a specialized class to handle dates without all the excess baggage (time zones, daylight savings, leap seconds, etc.) of other date structures. The minimalist strategy greatly simplifies its implementation and use. Internally, NormalDate is stored as an integer with values in a discontinuous range of -99990101 to 99991231. The integer value is used principally for storage and to simplify the user interface. Internal calculations are performed by a scalar based on Jan 1, 1900. For people who are serious about their date calculations, I'd recommend Marc-Andre Lemburg's mxDateTime: http://starship.python.net/crew/lemburg/mxExtensions.html For people who aren't so serious about their date calculations, check out: http://www.pauahtun.org The Python distribution also includes a date class, which would have saved me time, had I bothered to check. Demo/classes/Dates.py --- Jeff Bauer Rubicon Research <A HREF="http://starship.python.net/crew/jbauer/normalDate/">normalDate 0.7</A> - updated version of Jeff Bauer's ''NormalDate'' class for date calculations based on scalar integers. (21-Aug-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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[fm] zope 2.0.1
by Markus Fleck Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Zope 2.0.1 Drew - September 22nd 1999, 11:02 EST Zope is a free, Open Source web application platform used for building high-performance, dynamic web sites. It contains a powerful and simple scripting object model and high-performance, integrated object database. Changes: A security bug allowed users with local roles to gain privileges on acquired objects. Users of Zope 2.0.0 that use local roles should upgrade. Download: http://www.zope.org/Products/Zope/ Red Hat Packages: http://www.zope.at/mze/ Homepage: http://www.zope.org/ Changelog: http://www.zope.org/Products/Zope/2.0.1/CHANGES.txt Author:Digital Creations License:OpenSource Category:Web/Development <A HREF="http://www.zope.org/">Zope 2.0.1</A> - a free, open source web application platform used for building high-performance, dynamic web sites; security update for Zope 2.0.0. (22-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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Standard Python documentation in book form!
by Guido van Rossum Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

I am pleased to announce that toExcel.com is selling nicely printed and bound copies of the key Python 1.5.2 documentation: library reference, language reference, and tutorial. The books are printed on demand. I have received review copies and the print quality is very good. Especially the library reference (496 pages) is well worth your money if you want hardcopy! Royalties go to the PSA. --Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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JPython 1.1 beta 3
by Barry A. Warsaw Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

I'm pleased to announce the release of JPython 1.1 beta 3, the 100% Pure Java implementation of the Python language. Below is a summary of changes since beta 2. Although I fixed a lot of bugs, I didn't get to all that I'd hoped, especially concerning jpythonc. I'll be concentrating on that when I get back. My plan is to have one last beta release by the end of October, followed by 1.1 final by the end of the year. Enjoy, -Barry New JPython features and bug fixes - JPython can now optionally access non-public members of Java classes. By setting the registry entry python.security.respectJavaAccessibility=false, JPython can access private, package-private, and protected fields, methods, and constructors. By default, normal Java access rules are followed, i.e. only public members can be accessed. This feature only works if running with Java 1.2. Thanks to Tony Plate for his initial implementation. - A new framework for looking up the methods for builtin types has been enabled. This can speed up method calls by a factor of 2. The feature is currently experimental and has only been implemented for list objects, but will be implemented for other builtin objects for the next release. - Some workarounds for weird JIT bugs have been added, but this may not fix all problems related to running JPython under JVMs with JIT enabled. - A wrapper for a free md5 builtin module is included, although the md5 implementation is not. See the comment in org/python/modules/MD5Module.java for details. - New semantics for registry key python.modules.builtin (and correspondingly the org/python/modules/Setup.java file). Improved CPython 1.5.2 compatibility - sys.modules['__builtin__'] and "import __builtin__" has been fixed. - Builtin methods and functions now have the standard __name__, __doc__, __self__, and __members__ attributes. - Dictionaries and lists now have a __methods__ attribute, and dir({}) or dir([]) return the list of members. - repr(8to16bitstring) now prints standard octal escapes for 8bit characters. It still prints hex escapes for 16bit characters. - Added abspath() to os.path (i.e. javapath) - Code objects now have a co_flags attribute - Frame objects now have f_trace attribute, and dir(frame) works - None() now raises a TypeError - tuple(somelist) immutability patch - re match objects now have groupdict() method - Finn Bock patch for setting of a module's __name__ after reload <A HREF="http://www.jpython.org">JPython 1.1 beta 3</A> - a 100% Pure Java implementation of the Python language. (22-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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Zope Weekly News - Wed, 22 Sep 1999
by Pam Crosby Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Hello Everyone, This week in Zope Community the Zope.org community portal site experienced growing pains. We had to take it down and release Zope 2.0.1 to correct a security problem. 'Tis now available on http://www.zope.org/ new site http://www.zope.org:8080/ old site Loren Stafford submitted a "Breadcrumbs How-to" to the new Zope community site. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010467.html http://www.zope.org/Members/lstaffor/Breadcrumbs Brad Clements attended Microsoft Windows 2000 Developer Day 99 and posted some ideas and concepts that could be applicable to Zope. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010558.html Jim Fulton announced changes checked into CVS that fixed our security problem. Zope 2.0.1 is the current release. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010585.html Duncan Booth passed on his method for Editing Zope documents with FTP using Epsilon. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010601.html Rik Hoekstra continued a discussion concerning wysiwyg front end for Zope. Several others added their thoughts to the discussion. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zdp/1999-September/000747.html http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010624.html http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010625.html http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010611.html Guido van Rossum reminded the list that papers are due September 30, 1999 for the next Python conference. The conference will be held in our backyard in Alexandra, VA. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010616.html http://www.python.org/workshops/2000-01/cfp.html http://www.python.org/workshops/2000-01 Alexander Staubo passed on Middleware discussion on InfoWorld where Zope was mentioned. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010795.html Paul Everitt made several "Long Awaited Announcements" to the list. The first is ZEO Zope Enterprise Option is now available. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010796.html Second, commercial support is now available from Digital Creations. Details of the support are listed on the http://www.digicool.com site. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010799.html Third, Zope training in Colorado Springs October 18-20 and the possibility of a Zope track at the Python conference. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010745.html Finally, the last announcement Paul posted concerned Hadar Pedhazur's co-authoring a bulletin for IDC. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010800.html Rob Page updated the list about Digital Creations documentation effort. Numerous How-To's and guide upgrades are now available on the new Zope community site. http://www.zope.org/pipermail/zope/1999-September/010730.html Hugh Emberson has added a patch to allow "different operator comparison" in SQL method. His information concerning <dtml-sqltest> is available at: http://www.zope.org/Members/hughe Until next week... Pamela Crosby Technical Writer mailto:pam@digicool.com Digital Creations http://www.digicool.com -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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PORPIG (Portland): Meeting October 4th, 1999, 7pm-9pm
by Robin Dunn Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Here is the announcment for the October meeting of the Portland ORegon area Python Interest Group (PORPIG). The meeting is from 7pm to 9pm and is held in the Benjamin Franklin Building. The entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Building is located on the corner of SW 1st Ave and SW Columbia Street in Portland. The building entrance is monitored by a security guard so it is very important that NON GROUP MEMBERS RSVP so you can be listed at the security desk. ----- Original Message ----- From: <ray(a)unival.com> To: <porpig(a)egroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 1999 11:47 AM Subject: [porpig] October Meeting > The October 4th meeting subject is an "Introduction to and mini-tutorial > of wxPython" presented by Robin Dunn. If you are not familiar with > wxPython, please see Robin's web site for information: > http://AllDunn.com/wxPython/ > > Randall Burns has volunteered to provide drinks and snacks for this > meeting.. thanks Randall ! > > Rember, if you are not a porpig(a)egroups.com member you must RSVP > (ray(a)unival.com) if you want to attend. > > Ray > ray(a)unival.com -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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XML-Sig Wise Installer for WIndows
by Christian Tismer Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

Hi all, I have packed together a Wise installer for the current XML SIG CVS snapshot as of today. ----------------------------------------------------- DOWNLOAD of the installer executable: ftp://ftp.pns.cc/pub/xml/PythonXML.EXE DOWNLOAD of the Wise source and helper scripts: (these should go into xml/Wise for the CVS) ftp://ftp.pns.cc/pub/xml/Wise.zip ----------------------------------------------------- The installer takes the main XML directory and installs it by default under \yourPythonDir\xml . Additionally, it puts the 'demo' and 'doc' files into the installation directory. The available documentation seems to have some broken links, but partially it works fine. The help files are accessible from PythonWin's help menu. As a note for CVS uploads: The xmlproc .gif uploads had additional cr/lf chars which I removed. I thought it was a CVS setup error, but they were in fact binary and wrong before the upload. Please complain to XML-SIG about bugs left in the demo directory. Complaints about the installer should go to me :-) have fun with XML - chris == Christian Tismer :^) <mailto:tismer@appliedbiometrics.com> Applied Biometrics GmbH : Have a break! Take a ride on Python's Kaiserin-Augusta-Allee 101 : *Starship* http://starship.python.net 10553 Berlin : PGP key -> http://wwwkeys.pgp.net PGP Fingerprint E182 71C7 1A9D 66E9 9D15 D3CC D4D7 93E2 1FAE F6DF we're tired of banana software - shipped green, ripens at home <A HREF="ftp://ftp.pns.cc/pub/xml/">XML SIG CVS snapshot</A> - self-installing version of the Python XML SIG snapshot code (for Windows). (21-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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Review of O'Reilly's "Learning Python" Book at 32BitsOnline.com
by Markus Fleck Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

A Review of O'Reilly's "Learning Python" Book: http://www.32bitsonline.com/article.php3?file=issues/199909/pythonedit&page… "[...] In the end, I felt that the second section had given me more than I expected (and more than one usually gets from a textbook), because it put me in touch with the modern use of Python and prepared me to continue the endless learning process. [...] the book is excellent in my overall opinion. This book is well-structured, concise, and practical and all you need to learn that fantastic language, Python." Article Copyright (c) 1999 - Medullas Publishing Company. <A HREF="http://www.32bitsonline.com/article.php3?file=issues/199909/pythonedit&page…"> Python Book Review</A> - a review of the O'Reilly ''Learning Python'' book (at 32bitsonline.com). (15-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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List Comprehensions Enhancement
by Greg Ewing Sept. 23, 1999

Sept. 23, 1999

I have implemented some of the list comprehension syntax ideas that were discussed a while ago. Some examples: nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] strs = ["Apple", "Banana", "Coconut"] print [3 * x for x in nums] print [x for x in nums if x > 2] print [(i, s) for i in nums for s in strs] print [(i, s) for i in nums for s in [f for f in strs if "n" in f]] For more details and a patch, see: http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~greg/python/listcomp/index.html == Greg Ewing, Computer Science Dept, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand greg(a)cosc.canterbury.ac.nz <A HREF="http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/~greg/python/listcomp/index.html">List Comprehensions Patch</A> - Greg Ewing's implementation of enhanced list comprehensions syntax for Python (using "for" and "in" keywords). (11-Sep-99) -- ----------- comp.lang.python.announce (moderated) ---------- Article Submission Address: python-announce(a)python.org Python Language Home Page: http://www.python.org/ Python Quick Help Index: http://www.python.org/Help.html ------------------------------------------------------------

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