3D graphics programmers using Python?

[Mark Hammond]

[Mailed and posted]

Brandon Van Every wrote:
> Python has its
> pitfalls that can chew up time.  The main ones that concern me right now are
> integration with C++, floating point support, and integration with Visual
> Studio 6.0.  

Can you detail your concerns?  Integration with C++ and VC6 is generally 
excellent, and I have specific experience in that area that I am happy 
to share.

Re floating point, I think you will find a Python float simply wraps a C 
float, so can you be more specific about your concern?

> Also it occurred to me last night: does Python support operator
> overloading?  If it doesn't, that would totally change how I write all of my
> 3D calculations.

It does.

> The amount of coding I need to do right now is monumental no matter what the
> programming language.  If I was experienced in Python, maybe I'd get done a
> week sooner.  But I'd still be working round the clock, and I don't know
> when exactly I'm going to be out of the woods.

I would suggest that if you are correct about the amount of C++ coding, 
that you would finish it a week earlier being *inexperienced* with Python.

An experienced Python developer could often expect to half development 
time, and I assume you were talking about more than 2 weeks coding.

You will find the Python community split roughly into 2 camps - those 
who just *love* to chew the fat on c.l.python, and those who simply get 
things done.  I quick look at the entire newsgroup will show that the 
most helpful people in the "quiet" threads are generally absent in the 
flame wars.

I am sure you appreciate you are not the only C++ coder on this 
newsgroup.  You can probably even appreciate that some of these people 
may be highly skilled C++ developers.  I believe you will find that none 
of these developers use Python exclusively.  Skilled C++ developers do 
not turn their backs on C++ when they start using Python - in much the 
same way a carpenter doesn't turn his back on his hammer once he gets a 
screwdriver.  Each has strengths, but by limiting yourself to a single 
language/tool, you are also limiting yourself to its weaknesses.

Ignore the flamewars, and never think you will throw away C++.  Just 
quietly pick up the tutorial, then the "extending and embedding" manual, 
and learn something new :)

Mark.