[Edu-sig] Namespaces for Children

[kirby urner]

Here's an excerpt of stuff posted to Wwwanderers (another Yahoo! group
I frequent).

My purpose is sharing it here is to suggest how some classrooms *might*
be introducing the concept of namespaces to children, using chemistry and
Sim Earth style simulations for themes.  More on PHYSOC this month:
http://listserv.uark.edu/archives/physoc.html

==== sample session slash source code ===

>>> from ecology import StateOfMatter
>>> StateOfMatter.Gas
"""
StateOfMatter.Gas:

molecular degrees of freedom maximal
though not excited to plasma state
(vertex-bond universal joint symbol).
"""

>>> StateOfMatter.Liquid
"""
StateOfMatter.Liquid:

more hinge-like and fluid, as if edge
bonded (but not really -- the math is
actually quite complicated!)
"""

etc.

Plus inside SolarSystem.py we find:

class Planet (OrbitingObject) :
    """
    A dynamic of gases, liquids and solids,
    plus radiation and gravity.

    Gibbs Phase Rule pertains.

    Please subclass this Planet for your
    own Planet classes.

    """
    def __init__(self, theplanet = "Earth",
                 time = "2007 AD") # default
        # self.__dict__ local namespace gets
        # populated from SQL database by
        # Gas, Liquid and Solid objects
        pass

    def run(self):
        # gets us going, called from default
        # Solarsystem object
        pass

    def orbit(self):
        # some mechanical model goes here
        # (take your best shot -- Newton's
        # is pretty cool), or accept superclass
        # default
        pass

    def collide(self, other):
        # if thinking to play a game of
        # Velikovskian Pool (not my game,
        # but some like it...)
        pass


def main():
    mysun = Sun()
    myplanet = Planet()
    mysun.add(myplanet)
    mymoon = myplanet.add(Moon())
    mysolarsystem = SolarSystem(mysun, planets = (myplanet,))
    mysolarsystem.run()  # whatever business rules

so...

>>> from solarsystem import main # not case sensitive

>>> solarsystem.main()

Kirby