Mailman 3 February 2006 - Python-announce-list

UK Python Conference - 19-20 April 2006
by Andy Robinson 28 Feb '06

28 Feb '06

The ACCU is once again hosting a UK Python Conference on the above dates at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford. Sign up now..... http://www.accu.org/index.php/conferences/2006/schedule PROGRAMME ========= I am happy to announce that Guido van Rossum is once again a keynote speaker for the entire ACCU conference. Following his keynote we have a single, 2-day Python track on Wednesday and Thursday including... Steve Holden: The Best of PyCon Michael Hudson: Error Handling with Recovery Phil Thompson: PyQT 4 Michael Hudson: PyPy - a progress report Simon Willison: Django Remi Delon: CherryPy and TurboGears Chris Withers: Templating systems Andy Robinson: Metadata and models in Python Andrew Thompson: Financial Programming in Python ...and of course lightning talks and BOFS will be welcome.... Friday 21st will feature a Dynamic Languages track with in-depth talks on Javascript, Ruby and Groovy, which I am sure will be of great interest to Python developers; and of course the dinner. PRE CONFERENCE PYTHON TUTORIAL: =============================== John Pinner will be giving a full day "Python for Programmers" tutorial on Tuesday prior to the main event. This tutorial is aimed at programmers who have no previous knowledge of Python but who would like to know more about it. If you want to convert your colleagues, this is where to send them.... ABOUT THE ACCU CONFERENCE ========================= For those not familiar with the event, the ACCU conference is one of the foremost gatherings of programming talent in the world, regularly featuring authors and major figures from the C/C++/C#/Java/Python and other communities. The cheapest way to attend is to join the ACCU This will be the LAST CHANCE to attend this fantastic event; after more than 5 years of being nurtured by the ACCU, the UK Python community will hopefully be organising a standalone conference in future years. Python talks will continue to be welcome (and we hope numerous) on the ACCU programme, but not as an advertised "mini-conference"; instead we'll be shifting focus to dynamic languages in general. Best Regards, Andy Robinson ACCU Conference Committee

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UK Python Conference - 19-20 April 2006
by Andy Robinson 28 Feb '06

28 Feb '06

The ACCU is once again hosting a UK Python Conference on the above dates at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford. Sign up now..... http://www.accu.org/index.php/conferences/2006/schedule PROGRAMME ========= I am happy to announce that Guido van Rossum is once again a keynote speaker for the entire ACCU conference. Following his keynote we have a single, 2-day Python track on Wednesday and Thursday including... Steve Holden: The Best of PyCon Michael Hudson: Error Handling with Recovery Phil Thompson: PyQT 4 Michael Hudson: PyPy - a progress report Simon Willison: Django Remi Delon: CherryPy and TurboGears Chris Withers: Templating systems Andy Robinson: Metadata and models in Python Andrew Thompson: Financial Programming in Python ...and of course lightning talks and BOFS will be welcome.... Friday 21st will feature a Dynamic Languages track with in-depth talks on Javascript, Ruby and Groovy, which I am sure will be of great interest to Python developers; and of course the dinner. PRE CONFERENCE PYTHON TUTORIAL: =============================== John Pinner will be giving a full day "Python for Programmers" tutorial on Tuesday prior to the main event. This tutorial is aimed at programmers who have no previous knowledge of Python but who would like to know more about it. If you want to convert your colleagues, this is where to send them.... ABOUT THE ACCU CONFERENCE ========================= For those not familiar with the event, the ACCU conference is one of the foremost gatherings of programming talent in the world, regularly featuring authors and major figures from the C/C++/C#/Java/Python and other communities. The cheapest way to attend is to join the ACCU This will be the LAST CHANCE to attend this fantastic event; after more than 5 years of being nurtured by the ACCU, the UK Python community will hopefully be organising a standalone conference in future years. Python talks will continue to be welcome (and we hope numerous) on the ACCU programme, but not as an advertised "mini-conference"; instead we'll be shifting focus to dynamic languages in general. Best Regards, Andy Robinson ACCU Conference Committee

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New Module: CmdLoop - Base class for writing simple interactive command loop environments.
by Crutcher Dunnavant 28 Feb '06

28 Feb '06

Code available here: http://littlelanguages.com/web/software/python/modules/cmdloop.py Base class for writing simple interactive command loop environments. CommandLoop provides a base class for writing simple interactive user environments. It is designed around sub-classing, has a simple command parser, and is trivial to initialize. Here is a trivial little environment written using CommandLoop: import cmdloop class Hello(cmdloop.CommandLoop): PS1='hello>' @cmdloop.aliases('hello', 'hi', 'hola') @cmdloop.shorthelp('say hello') @cmdloop.usage('hello TARGET') def helloCmd(self, flags, args): ''' Say hello to TARGET, which defaults to 'world' ''' if flags or len(args) != 1: raise cmdloop.InvalidArguments print >> self.OUT, 'Hello %s!' % args[0] @cmdloop.aliases('quit') def quitCmd(self, flags, args): ''' Quit the environment. ''' raise cmdloop.HaltLoop Hello().runLoop() Here's a more complex example: import cmdloop class HelloGoodbye(cmdloop.CommandLoop): PS1='hello>' def __init__(self, default_target = 'world'): self.default_target = default_target self.target_list = [] @cmdloop.aliases('hello', 'hi', 'hola') @cmdloop.shorthelp('say hello') @cmdloop.usage('hello [TARGET]') def helloCmd(self, flags, args): ''' Say hello to TARGET, which defaults to 'world' ''' if flags or len(args) > 1: raise cmdloop.InvalidArguments if args: target = args[0] else: target = self.default_target if target not in self.target_list: self.target_list.append(target) print >> self.OUT, 'Hello %s!' % target @cmdloop.aliases('goodbye') @cmdloop.shorthelp('say goodbye') @cmdloop.usage('goodbye TARGET') def goodbyeCmd(self, flags, args): ''' Say goodbye to TARGET. ''' if flags or len(args) != 1: raise cmdloop.InvalidArguments target = args[0] if target in self.target_list: print 'Goodbye %s!' % target self.target_list.remove(target) else: print >> self.OUT, \ "I haven't said hello to %s." % target @cmdloop.aliases('quit') def quitCmd(self, flags, args): ''' Quit the environment. ''' raise cmdloop.HaltLoop def _onLoopExit(self): if len(self.target_list): self.pushCommands(('quit',)) for target in self.target_list: self.pushCommands(('goodbye', target)) else: raise cmdloop.HaltLoop HelloGoodbye().runLoop()

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Dr. Dobb's Python-URL! - weekly Python news and links (Feb 27)
by Cameron Laird 27 Feb '06

27 Feb '06

QOTW: "Actually, Python has the distinction of being both a great tool language *and* a great Zen language. That's what makes Python so cool ;-)))" - Ron Stephens "It is probably possible to do the whole thing with a regular expression. It is probably not wise to do so." - John Zenger (among MANY other wise people) Steve Holden generates abundant volume of PyCon reportage when executive responsibilities don't tether him: http://holdenweb.blogspot.com/ A question from Brian Blais on the simplest non-trivial sorting elicits a satisfying range of expressions: http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_thread/thread/560fda… Use the 'Net for backups in a far more sophisticated way: http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~emin/source_code/dibs/ A beta release of the updated official Python site will go live on 5 March 2006: http://wiki.python.org/moin/PyCon2006/Sprints/PydotorgSprint ======================================================================== Everything Python-related you want is probably one or two clicks away in these pages: Python.org's Python Language Website is the traditional center of Pythonia http://www.python.org Notice especially the master FAQ http://www.python.org/doc/FAQ.html PythonWare complements the digest you're reading with the marvelous daily python url http://www.pythonware.com/daily Mygale is a news-gathering webcrawler that specializes in (new) World-Wide Web articles related to Python. http://www.awaretek.com/nowak/mygale.html While cosmetically similar, Mygale and the Daily Python-URL are utterly different in their technologies and generally in their results. For far, FAR more Python reading than any one mind should absorb, much of it quite interesting, several pages index much of the universe of Pybloggers. http://lowlife.jp/cgi-bin/moin.cgi/PythonProgrammersWeblog http://www.planetpython.org/ http://mechanicalcat.net/pyblagg.html comp.lang.python.announce announces new Python software. Be sure to scan this newsgroup weekly. http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=comp.lang.python.announce Steve Bethard, Tim Lesher, and Tony Meyer continue the marvelous tradition early borne by Andrew Kuchling, Michael Hudson and Brett Cannon of intelligently summarizing action on the python-dev mailing list once every other week. http://www.python.org/dev/summary/ The Python Package Index catalogues packages. http://www.python.org/pypi/ The somewhat older Vaults of Parnassus ambitiously collects references to all sorts of Python resources. http://www.vex.net/~x/parnassus/ Much of Python's real work takes place on Special-Interest Group mailing lists http://www.python.org/sigs/ Python Success Stories--from air-traffic control to on-line match-making--can inspire you or decision-makers to whom you're subject with a vision of what the language makes practical. http://www.pythonology.com/success The Python Software Foundation (PSF) has replaced the Python Consortium as an independent nexus of activity. It has official responsibility for Python's development and maintenance. http://www.python.org/psf/ Among the ways you can support PSF is with a donation. http://www.python.org/psf/donate.html Kurt B. Kaiser publishes a weekly report on faults and patches. http://www.google.com/groups?as_usubject=weekly%20python%20patch Cetus collects Python hyperlinks. http://www.cetus-links.org/oo_python.html Python FAQTS http://python.faqts.com/ The Cookbook is a collaborative effort to capture useful and interesting recipes. http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python Among several Python-oriented RSS/RDF feeds available are http://www.python.org/channews.rdf http://bootleg-rss.g-blog.net/pythonware_com_daily.pcgi http://python.de/backend.php For more, see http://www.syndic8.com/feedlist.php?ShowMatch=python&ShowStatus=all The old Python "To-Do List" now lives principally in a SourceForge reincarnation. http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?atid=355470&group_id=5470&func=browse http://python.sourceforge.net/peps/pep-0042.html The online Python Journal is posted at pythonjournal.cognizor.com. editor(a)pythonjournal.com and editor(a)pythonjournal.cognizor.com welcome submission of material that helps people's understanding of Python use, and offer Web presentation of your work. del.icio.us presents an intriguing approach to reference commentary. It already aggregates quite a bit of Python intelligence. http://del.icio.us/tag/python *Py: the Journal of the Python Language* http://www.pyzine.com Archive probing tricks of the trade: http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_ugroup=comp.lang.python&num=100 http://groups.google.com/groups?meta=site%3Dgroups%26group%3Dcomp.lang.pyth… Previous - (U)se the (R)esource, (L)uke! - messages are listed here: http://www.ddj.com/topic/python/ (requires subscription) http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=python-url+group:comp.lang.python*&s… http://purl.org/thecliff/python/url.html (dormant) or http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_q=+Python-URL!&as_ugroup=comp.lan… There is *not* an RSS for "Python-URL!"--at least not yet. Arguments for and against are occasionally entertained. Suggestions/corrections for next week's posting are always welcome. E-mail to <Python-URL(a)phaseit.net> should get through. To receive a new issue of this posting in e-mail each Monday morning (approximately), ask <claird(a)phaseit.net> to subscribe. Mention "Python-URL!". -- The Python-URL! Team-- Dr. Dobb's Journal (http://www.ddj.com) is pleased to participate in and sponsor the "Python-URL!" project.

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February Toronto Python User's Group meeting is tomorrow, 7PM at Linux Caffe
by Mike C. Fletcher 27 Feb '06

27 Feb '06

I'll be doing a short presentation on my recent work on the StarPy Asterisk Protocols for Twisted. These protocols allow Python programmers to write Asterisk FastAGI and AMI customisation and management scripts in the same process as code running any other Twisted clients/servers. After that we'll have time for open discussion. Meeting is at the regular time and place, Linux Caffe, 7pm. Details here: http://web.engcorp.com/pygta/wiki/NextMeeting Hope to see you all there, Mike -- ________________________________________________ Mike C. Fletcher Designer, VR Plumber, Coder http://www.vrplumber.com http://blog.vrplumber.com

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ANN: FileTrack v0.1-beta2 released
by t.koutsovassilis＠gmail.com 27 Feb '06

27 Feb '06

FileTrack is the first desktop-like web application based on Porcupine Web application server and QuiX. It is a web enabled communication log, keeping track of all your inbound and outbound documents. It supports multiple logs, auto-archiving of older entries and generates simple reports based on multiple criteria. One or more log entries, contacts or documents can be grouped together into an issue, for easier monitoring. This release is compatible with the new Porcupine and QuiX APIs. It also includes a minor optimization and a bug fix. The script that assigned the security roles on a log entry, based on the sender, the recipient and the CC list, was faulty. If a FileTrack author was included in this list, its role on the log entry was changed to 'Reader'. As a result, despite of being a member of the "FileTrack Authors" group, the user could not edit the entry. The contacts' search query, when clicking on the initial letter, is changed using recursive traversal of the "/Contacts" folder. Download it at http://www.innoscript.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,33/func,se…

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ANN: Porcupine 0.0.6 released
by t.koutsovassilis＠gmail.com 27 Feb '06

27 Feb '06

This release includes numerous QuiX enhancements, but also introduces some major QuiX API changes. The base widget class (Widget) has been refactored. Most of its attributes have been replaced with getters and setters. Thus, a single attribute change does not require a full redraw. This release also introduces the term "off-line widget", a major performance enhancement. It is now possible to detach a widget hierarchy by keeping it in memory, and attach it again, whenever this is needed. So far, six QuiX modules have been optimized using this technique. On the server side, a new utility has been included. The "db_init.py" script initializes a blank Porcupine database. This script might be useful of those not being able to start the server due to BerkeleyDB incompatible database formats. The "stringresources.xml" configuration file is discarded. The localized strings are kept inside UTF-8 encoded Python script files. By this way, we prevent any possible resource naming conflicts by different applications. Finally, all system resources (servlets, PSPs and strings) are moved inside the "resources/system" folder. The "system/servlets" and "system/PSP" folders are discarded. Due to the API changes introduced on both sides (server and client), all previous versions of Porcupine applications are incompatible with this release and should be upgraded. Innoscript has also announced Quill, the upcoming QuiX visual editor. The first WYSIWYG web interface designer for rich internet desktop-like applications. For details see http://www.innoscript.org/content/view/40/2/. Resources ========= What is Porcupine? http://www.innoscript.org/content/view/30/42/ Porcupine online demo: http://www.innoscript.org/content/view/21/43/ Porcupine tutorials: http://wiki.innoscript.org/index.php/Developers/Tutorials Developer resources: http://www.innoscript.org/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,33/func,se…

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PyWeek Python Game Programming Challenge, The Second!
by richard＠pyweek.org 24 Feb '06

24 Feb '06

The date for the second PyWeek challenge has been set: Sunday 26th March to Sunday 2nd April (00:00UTC to 00:00UTC). The PyWeek challenge invites entrants to write a game in one week from scratch either as an individual or in a team. Entries must be developed in Python, during the challenge, and must incorporate some theme chosen at the start of the challenge. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN -- To register for the challenge, visit: http://www.pyweek.org/ Some of the challenge website isn't finished yet. I hope to have it completed in the next week. This includes management of team entries. PLANNING FOR THE CHALLENGE -- Make sure you have working versions of the libraries you're going to use. The rules page has a list of libraries and other resources. Make sure you can build packages to submit as your final submission (if you're going to use py2exe, make sure you know how to use it and that it works). If you don't have access to Linux, Windows or a Mac to test on, contact friends, family or other competitors to find someone who is able to test for you. -- Visit the PyWeek website: http://www.pyweek.org/

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[ANN] New python.org and Call for Volunteers
by Tim Parkin 24 Feb '06

24 Feb '06

We would like to announce that the beta python site will be made live on the 5th March 2006. In order to ensure that the switch is as smooth as possible, we are asking for some volunteers to help in finalising the migration and checking of content and links. Guido van Rossum will be announcing this during his keynote speech at Pycon and there will be sprints from 27th February through to the 2nd March. All the information you'll need is here. http://wiki.python.org/moin/PyCon2006/Sprints/PydotorgSprint It is our intention to move the current site to http://archive.python.org and to allow certain paths of the new beta site to still use the old content (for instance, it is likely that the /docs section will remain as is until a new documentation template has been approved). The work won't be finished once the site goes live however, work has already started on adding the facility for discussion, annotation and additions to the website by integrating wiki page content. The plan is for the best bits of the community contributions to be included as appendices to each page of the site. Please get involved now and help us to reach this ultimate goal as soon as possible. If you wish to volunteer some time, please send an email to tparkin(a)python.org and we will add you to the list. beta.python team so far: * Tim Parkin * Stephan Deibel * David Goodger * Steve Holden

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[ANN] httpy 0.9.0 -- a sane and robust HTTP library for Python
by Chad Whitacre 23 Feb '06

23 Feb '06

Greetings, program! I am pleased to announce the first public release of httpy -- a sane and robust HTTP library for Python. With httpy, you write "responders," and put them on the network with "couplers." Here is a trivial responder: import httpy class Responder: def respond(request): raise httpy.Response(200, "Greetings, program!") And here is how to couple it: responder = Responder() coupler = httpy.couplers.StandAlone(responder) coupler.go() httpy is so amazing, in fact, that with it I was able to write an entire wiki in only 20 seconds! Don't believe me? Check out the screencast (along with downloads and full documentation) at: http://www.zetadev.com/software/httpy/ Thank you. Chad Whitacre http://www.zetadev.com/ P.S. I'm going to be discussing httpy, testosterone, and a couple other projects at PyCon this weekend at an Open Space event on Saturday morning entitled "Un-reinventing the Wheel: Some Lessons from Zope, Backported to Unix." Join me if you can.

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