[Edu-sig] Top 5 All Time Novice Obstacles => #2 Helping help

[Patrick K. O'Brien]

[Guido van Rossum]
>
> > When Novice Pythonistas get to steps 5. and 8. above, surely Python
> > can help by jumping in with help(os.lstat)?
>
> I've tried to stay out of the artificial intelligence business.  I
> think what you're asking for is a separate "newbie shell" that takes a
> *much* more careful look at what you're trying to do, and provides
> help accordingly.  That would be a great project.  But one or two
> tweaks to Python or IDLE ain't gonna do it.  It *seems* simple on the
> surface -- until you realize that you get the same errors all the time
> for different reasons.

If I may toot my own horn, have any of you tried PyCrust? It's a Python
shell that ships with wxPython. PyCrust will pop up a list of object
properties after the dot operator, pop up a call tip window that displays
the argument spec and docstring when you type the left paren for function
and method calls (and class instantiation), has a namespace tree view in
which you can drill down to explore any object in the current namespace,
etc, etc. A text pane to the right of the namespace tree shows additional
details for the item selected in the tree, such as the proper syntax for
referencing the object, the object type, the object value and the source
code for the object, if it is available.

It's not artificial intelligence by any means, but it does leverage Python
introspection to the max for people (like me) who like pointing and clicking
and having all that information right in front of them.

Pat

--
Patrick K. O'Brien
Orbtech
-----------------------------------------------
"Your source for Python programming expertise."
-----------------------------------------------
Web:  http://www.orbtech.com/web/pobrien/
Blog: http://www.orbtech.com/blog/pobrien/
Wiki: http://www.orbtech.com/wiki/PatrickOBrien
-----------------------------------------------