Python Popularity: Questions and Comments

[Resty Cena]

"Kevin Altis" <altis at semi-retired.com> wrote in message news:<DOeX7.2433$ju5.582404 at news.uswest.net>...
> I couldn't agree more. Thus you won't be surprised that in many ways that is
> the sweet spot that PythonCard is aiming at. You'll need wxPython 2.3.2 or
> higher and Python 2.x to give it a try, but you can at least look at screen
> shots if nothing else.
> 
> http://pythoncard.sourceforge.net/
> 
> We are moving towards a component model, which will give you many of the
> capabilities you are familiar with from using COM. There is a layout editor
> (the resourceEditor sample) and automatic event binding and event handlers
> that should look a lot like what you have used with VB. You can already
> build standalone Windows executables using py2exe.
> 
Yes, I've been following the progress of PythonCard (and Boa
Constructor) very intently (I did some educational stuff in HyperCard
a long time ago). I must congratulate you and the team for the
tremendous progress made in such a short time.

Tim Churches made this list in another posting. I'd put (a), (b), and
(e) as my top priority.

The main things which PythonCard needs are:

a) A drag-and-drop form editor (I believe this is being worked on)
b) Automated bindings of data-aware controls to underlying databases.
c) A drag-and-drop SQL query editor.
d) A banded report writer like Access or Crystal reports.
e) A really easy installation routine which handles the database
installation/adminstration as well.
f) Excellent documentation.

Best wishes,
rmc

 
> "Resty Cena" <rcena at epcor.ca> wrote in message
> news:458b194a.0112282052.1123341 at posting.google.com...
> > The real source of growth for both Python and Ruby are the 3M VB
> > developers worldwide. Whichever can provide what it is that VB
> > developers like about VB on top of what Python and Ruby natively offer
> > will hit the jackpot. To me these are: (a) Visual drag-and-drop
> > application builder with data aware controls, and (b) good support for
> > the big databases (Oracle, Sybase, Informix). I'm going through the
> > gui chapters of Mark Lutz' PP2E, and while I can see that handcrafting
> > gui this way gives me a lot of control, I'm thinking I don't want to
> > do this -- I'm a database application developer. I want to write a
> > dynamic work order system and I have no ambition to become a system
> > tool maker. And so do the 3M VB developers.
> >
> > VB used to be a toy language. Not too long ago no respectable company
> > would use VB for their corporate systems. It did not start to become
> > an enterprise solution until VB3. What happened there?
> >
> > VB 6 will be retired in favor of VB.NET. Personally I think that the
> > direction VB has taken, towards a verbose C#, is misguided. VB should
> > have evolved into something like Python or Ruby. With VB.NET, VB
> > programmers will ask, "What's the point?" Might as well dive into C#.
> > Or look around for something else.
> >
> > Hopefully by that time -- 18 months from now? -- Python and/or Ruby
> > will have what it is VB programmers cannot live without.
> >
> > Folks, come up with (a) and (b) above, then start posting at c.l.vb.
> >
> >
> > Paul Prescod <paul at prescod.net> wrote in message
>  news:<mailman.1009581813.21884.python-list at python.org>...
> > > Dave Thomas wrote:
> > > >
> > > > ... Instead, Ruby will attract folks from outside the
> > > > Python world. Ruby and Python differ in philosophy and _feel_. Some
> > > > folks like one, some the other. I don't see it as competition. I see
> > > > it as choice.
> > >
> > > Is there really a difference? Pepsi and Coke are choices. They are also
> > > in competition. They have a somewhat different taste but are more
> > > similar than different. In the long run, there will come a day when
> > > they've taken as much of the market share of other drinks away as they
> > > will, and the primary competition will be between the two of them.
> > >
> > >  Paul Prescod