[Pythonmac-SIG] My stab at a new page

Kevin Walzer sw at wordtech-software.com
Thu Feb 9 20:32:55 CET 2006


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Bill Janssen wrote:
> I've made up a sample page, at http://bill.janssen.org/new-macpython-page.html.
> 
> This is the kind of thing I'd like to see replace the page at
> http://www.python.org/download/download_mac.html.
> 
> Bill
> _______________________________________________
> Pythonmac-SIG maillist  -  Pythonmac-SIG at python.org
> http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonmac-sig
> 
> 
OK, going through the page line-by-line:

1. Link to the "Macintosh Library Module": A lot of that stuff will be
rendered obsolete the minute Bob releases the universal build of
MacPython. PythonIDE, Package Manager, etc.: not gonna be included. At a
minimum, you should note that this stuff is "legacy." Also, who writes
this stuff and where should a bug be filed?

2. Ditto for "Apple Events." Does anyone use gensuitemodule or even know
what it means? (I don't.) I don't use appscripting, but I do know enough
to know that it's pretty much the standard way (by now) of accessing
Apple Events? has, what do you think?

3. The stuff on launching IDLE from Terminal: doesn't work for me. I get
these error messages:

 Warning: configHandler.py - IdleConf.GetOption -
 problem retrieving configration option 'enable'
 from section 'CodeContext'.
 returning default value: 1

 Warning: configHandler.py - IdleConf.GetOption -
 problem retrieving configration option 'enable'
 from section 'CodeContext'.
 returning default value: 1

 Warning: configHandler.py - IdleConf.GetOption -
 problem retrieving configration option 'enable'
 from section 'CodeContext'.
 returning default value: 1

Failed to import extension:  CodeContext

If I'm a newbie, I'm going to go, "Huh?", then "shrug," and move on to
Realbasic. There needs to be something double-clickable there for a
newbie to use. PythonIDE, though it had many flaws, was useful this way.
 BTW, what happened to PyOXIDE? It had major bugs, but was promising as
a "next-generation" basic IDE for Python development on the Mac. IDLE
will do in a pinch, but only if it can be started in a standard
(non-terminal) way.

4. Maintainer: does Python on the Mac even have an official maintainer
anymore? Has Jack Jansen resigned? Is it "maintainer-by-committee"? I
can't help but think this is part of the reason Python seems adrift as a
Mac development platform: the group is having a hard time even agreeing
on who it's serving (hard-core developers? newbies?). The outstanding
technical support we are getting from the experts such as Bob, for
instance in terms of building universal binaries, is getting the most
essential daily tasks done; but this isn't the same as having a
leadership focus to actually make strategic decisions about Python on
the Mac platform. I mention this because I think it's important to state
accurately how Python on the Mac is maintained: by a loose group of
experts rather than a dedicated maintainer. That will help people know
what to expect.

- --
Kevin Walzer
iReveal: File Search Tool
http://www.wordtech-software.com
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