[Tutor] creating interactive program with python

[Alan Gauld]

"Andre Walker-Loud" <walksloud at gmail.com> wrote

> 1) I am trying to trying to figure out how I would set up an  
> interactive python script, however, I am having trouble googling this,  
> since a search for "interactive python" just returns instructions on  
> how to type "python" in a terminal to get an "interactive" session....

Check out the Talking to the User topic in my tutorial.

It covers interactive prompting and use of command line arguments.

> 3) I see iPython (which I have never used) is an enhanced interactive  
> python shell.  Perhaps this could do what I want - does anyone have  
> experience with iPython?  

Several here use it but that is a development tool not the 
final application. However you might like to investigate 
the cmd module... It could be very helpful.

> 4) does anyone have strong recommendations for or against using  
> matplotlib?  Is it low maintenance for producing graphs, or does it  
> take lots of user interaction?  All the example pictures I see are  
> very pretty, but it is not clear how much effort is needed to generate  
> them - or is it just a "well know to those who know it well" thing?

I haven't used it seriously but those that do seem to find it works OK.

HTH,

-- 
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/