ANN: empy 2.2 -- A templating system for Python

Erik Max Francis max@alcyone.com
Thu, 21 Nov 2002 17:47:18 -0800


Summary

    A templating system for Python.


Overview

    empy is a system for embedding Python expressions and statements
    in template text; it takes an empy source file, processes it, and
    produces output.  This is accomplished via expansions, which are
    special signals to the empy system and are set off by a special
    prefix (by default the at sign, '@').  empy can expand arbitrary
    Python expressions and statements in this way, as well as a
    variety of special forms.  Textual data not explicitly delimited
    in this way is sent unaffected to the output, allowing Python to
    be used in effect as a markup language.  Also supported are "hook"
    callbacks, recording and playback via diversions, and dynamic,
    chainable filters.  The system is highly configurable via command
    line options and embedded commands.

    Expressions are embedded in text with the '@(...)' notation;
    variations include conditional expressions with '@(...?...:...)'
    and the ability to handle thrown exceptions with '@(...$...)'.  As
    a shortcut, simple variables and expressions can be abbreviated as
    '@variable', '@object.attribute', '@function(arguments)',
    '@sequence[index]', and combinations.  Full-fledged statements
    are embedded with '@{...}'.  Forms of conditional, repeated, and
    recallable expansion are available via '@[...]'.  A '@' followed
    by a whitespace character (including a newline) expands to
    nothing, allowing string concatenations and line continuations.
    Comments are indicated with '@#' and consume the rest of the line,
    up to and including the trailing newline.  '@%' indicate
    "significators," which are special forms of variable assignment
    intended to specify per-file identification information in a
    format which is easy to parse externally.  Escape sequences
    analogous to those in C can be specified with '@\...', and finally
    a '@@' sequence expands to a single literal at sign.


Getting the software

    The current version of empy is 2.2.

    The latest version of the software is available in a tarball here:
    http://www.alcyone.com/pyos/empy/empy-latest.tar.gz.

    The official URL for this Web site is
    http://www.alcyone.com/pyos/empy/.


Requirements

    empy should work with any version of Python from 1.5.x onward.
    The test script is intended to run on UNIX-like systems with a
    Bourne shell.


License

    This code is released under the GPL.

	...


Release history [since 2.1]

    - 2.2; 2002 Nov 21.  Switched to -V option for version
      information; 'empy.createDiversion' for creating initially empty
      diversion; direct access to diversion objects with
      'empy.retrieveDiversion'; environment variable support; removed
      --raw (used --raw-errors instead) long argument; added
      quaternary escape code (well, why not).

-- 
 Erik Max Francis / max@alcyone.com / http://www.alcyone.com/max/
 __ San Jose, CA, USA / 37 20 N 121 53 W / &tSftDotIotE
/  \ If a thing is worth doing, then it is worth doing badly.
\__/ G.K. Chesterton
    REALpolitik / http://www.realpolitik.com/
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