[Idle-dev] An IDLE extension for Google Summer of Code

[David Handy]

On Wed, Apr 07, 2010 at 03:24:45PM -0400, David Handy wrote:
> I wrote a tool, called "demotest" for presenting Python lessons with
> embedded Python code.
> 
> http://trizpug.org/Members/dhandy/newclass
> 
> Download demotest.py from the above page and run it. It prints each
> executable statement suite in the module's doctests and then pauses. Just
> keep hitting Enter to step through it.

If I were to do this over again, I'd use/extend doctest.testfile(), which
reads code examples from a plain text file instead of from a Python module.
Which is even closer to what you want.

David H

> On Wed, Apr 07, 2010 at 11:20:28AM -0700, Chas Leichner wrote:
> > Tal,
> > 
> > Although I think that Sikuli is an interesting project, it is still a
> > research prototype rather than a well developed project, like IDLE.
> > Programming with screenshots is a novel approach, but using a metafile would
> > allow a teacher easily and directly convert existing code to a tutorial or
> > lesson just by adding the appropriate tags. Using a commands to drive the
> > IDE would also allow the teacher to precisely dictate actions and tweak them
> > easily instead of having to re-record screenshots, like in Sikuli.
> > 
> > In addition, adding an extension to IDLE would make it accessible to anyone
> > with a basic Python install, because there is a version of IDLE easily
> > available on all platforms that Python is.
> > 
> > ~Chas
> > 
> > On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 2:57 AM, Tal Einat <taleinat at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 12:18 PM, Chas Leichner <chaoslichen at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > IDLE developers,
> > > >
> > > > I have been in contact with Greg Wilson of Software Carpentry, discussing
> > > > possible projects for the Google Summer of Code. He brought up adding a
> > > > record and playback function as an addition to IDLE so that students
> > > could
> > > > work through writing code dynamically, in the same manner they would with
> > > a
> > > > TA or mentor. To facilitate this, I would like to add an extension
> > > module,
> > > > changes to the core code, or an alternate education version of IDLE that
> > > > would read from a metafile with instructions to drive the IDE for them,
> > > > writing code, stopping to explain or ask questions and wait for answers,
> > > and
> > > > highlight sections of the code. As per the advice on the Python GSOC
> > > page, I
> > > > wanted to contact this list, to keep you updated and for your feedback,
> > > > before I got too far into writing my proposal.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Chas Leichner
> > >
> > > Hi Chas,
> > >
> > > This sounds like a great project! I really hope this goes well, and
> > > would love to receive updates on it, e.g. if you start a mailing list
> > > or blog about it.
> > >
> > > May I ask, why not develop something more generic, which allows
> > > various types of guided interactive learning, not just via IDLE? On
> > > first reading it seems that what you suggest could be achieved with
> > > something like Sikuli, without requiring any changes to IDLE.
> > >
> > > - Tal
> > >
> 
> > _______________________________________________
> > IDLE-dev mailing list
> > IDLE-dev at python.org
> > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/idle-dev
> 
> 
> -- 
> David Handy
> Computer Programming is Fun!
> Beginning Computer Programming with Python
> http://www.handysoftware.com/cpif/
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-- 
David Handy
Computer Programming is Fun!
Beginning Computer Programming with Python
http://www.handysoftware.com/cpif/