cross platform development inquiry

wxPython Users
1

I’ve written a desktop calendar end-user applet intended to display artwork by fellow members of an artists’ web community. The applet makes heavy use of wxPython, and in particular some adaptations of the wxPython demo classes, particularly the calendar control classes. I’ve developed the applet on WinXP but intend distributions for Mac OSX and Debian Linux. The initial target audience is also multinational.

Unfortunately I can’t maintain multiple platforms for uncovering and tweaking the platform-specific issues that are sure to exist. I’m also in need of assistance producing the Mac and Linux dist packages using py2app and cx_Freeze. Being new to the Python users community, I’m not sure what resources are available for finding help in such a project. An earlier post to pythonmac[SIG] has gotten little response; can anyone from the wxPython-users list suggest some other avenues of inquiry, or be willing themselves to lend a hand?

Thanks for any suggestions.

2

Wow. You sure do aim big. I like that :slight_smile: I just wish I could help. I've
got too much on my plate as things stand, so can't contribute much at
all. For the Mac, I've got no ideas. For Debian, though, I've got a few:

http://www.debian.org/support

This lists a ton of information (of which I've read less than 10%, I'm
sure). Specifically, I'd ask on the IRC links, and see if they have
people who are able to give much better advice.

Also, I'd recommend this book:
http://debiansystem.info/

It provides a wealth of information on Debian that I can't even come
close to replicating with a month of typing, all of it nicely organized.
Furthermore, Debian -- Documentation has a listing of a slew of
documentation, and http://www.debian.org/books has a bunch of books
(including several new ones that I did not know existed).

While it's not nearly enough info, I'm sure, it's hopefully enough to
point you to folks who can give you better information than I can.

One thing I'd like to point out, though, the version of wxPython that is
in Debian seems rather broken. I haven't filed a good bug report due to
lack of time, though I really should. You might want to follow the build
instructions for providing your own version of wxPython for Debian
users.

Just a thought, really.

Good luck!

···

On Wed, May 10, 2006 at 12:17:06PM -0400, chip nyman wrote:

I've written a desktop calendar end-user applet intended to display
artwork by fellow members of an artists' web community. The applet
makes heavy use of wxPython, and in particular some adaptations of the
wxPython demo classes, particularly the calendar control classes. I've
developed the applet on WinXP but intend distributions for Mac OSX and
Debian Linux. The initial target audience is also multinational.

--
Michael J. Pedersen
My IM IDs: Jabber/pedersen@icelus.tzo.com, ICQ/103345809, AIM/pedermj022171
           Yahoo/pedermj2002, MSN/pedermj022171@hotmail.com
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My GnuPG Key Fingerprint: C31C 7E90 5992 9E5E 9A02 233D D8DD 985E 4E72 4A60

3

If you want to ask general Python questions, use python-list@python.org
(or the equivalent comp.lang.python newsgroup). They should be able to
answer all of your py2exe, cx_freeze and py2app questions.

For the handling of platform-specific issues, aside from booting a copy
of linux, windows, and OSX, you may find it difficult to deal with
platform-specific issues.

- Josiah

···

"chip nyman" <chipartist@metrocast.net> wrote:

I've written a desktop calendar end-user applet intended to display artwork by fellow members of an artists' web community. The applet makes heavy use of wxPython, and in particular some adaptations of the wxPython demo classes, particularly the calendar control classes. I've developed the applet on WinXP but intend distributions for Mac OSX and Debian Linux. The initial target audience is also multinational.

Unfortunately I can't maintain multiple platforms for uncovering and tweaking the platform-specific issues that are sure to exist. I'm also in need of assistance producing the Mac and Linux dist packages using py2app and cx_Freeze. Being new to the Python users community, I'm not sure what resources are available for finding help in such a project. An earlier post to pythonmac[SIG] has gotten little response; can anyone from the wxPython-users list suggest some other avenues of inquiry, or be willing themselves to lend a hand?

Thanks for any suggestions.

4

chip nyman:

I've written a desktop calendar end-user applet intended to display artwork by fellow members of an artists' web community. The applet makes heavy use of wxPython, and in particular some adaptations of the wxPython demo classes, particularly the calendar control classes. I've developed the applet on WinXP but intend distributions for Mac OSX and Debian Linux. The initial target audience is also multinational.
Unfortunately I can't maintain multiple platforms for uncovering and tweaking the platform-specific issues that are sure to exist. I'm also in need of assistance producing the Mac and Linux dist packages using py2app and cx_Freeze. Being new to the Python users community, I'm not sure what resources are available for finding help in such a project. An earlier post to pythonmac[SIG] has gotten little response; can anyone from the wxPython-users list suggest some other avenues of inquiry, or be willing themselves to lend a hand?

I have some experience making a desktop application (Task Coach) available on WinXP, Mac OSX and Linux, so I might be able to help. Is your app open source? If so, what license?

Cheers, Frank

5

Frank Niessink:

I have some experience making a desktop application (Task Coach) available on WinXP, Mac OSX and Linux, so I might be able to help. Is your app open source? If so, what license?

Oops, that sounds like I would only help if it is Open Source. That was not what I meant. I was asking about open source/license because I'm interested in whether there would be any chance of reusing code/ideas in my own app.

Cheers, Frank

6

Thank you all for your replies.

Frank, to answer your question about release licensing and also expand a bit on the project:
The calendar applet is intended to mimic to some degree the ink-on-paper calendars that feature themed art as decorations; one form will be released as an open source "shell" which uses generic interface graphics and placeholder display graphics, but is functionally identical to the other form, which incorporates custom UI graphics and custom display art, and which would be licensed more restrictively to include all appropriate copyright protection for the artists contributing the work for display and to keep the UI graphics unique to this specific release. In both instances the graphics are all encoded as .py files (using img2py), and the "shell" package would include the original .png files as well, which can act as templates for production of custom graphics. This is the best way I could fashion to make the applet available on an open source basis, and also provide for unique custom releases featuring varying UI art and display art, much the way printed calendars are offered. In both cases my releases would be free of cost. The "shell" version would be released under the wxWindows license or a functional equivalent, including the exceptions. I'm still formulating a license for my own "unique" version, pending discussions with contributing artists on the usage and distribution limits they feel necessary for their contributions.

In terms of calendar functions, I modified the calendar.py module and the CalendFrame class of the wxPython demo to provide a means of associating short text notes with marked dates, tweaked the date marking routines and calendar text a bit, and added a custom tool button layout. Nothing earth-shaking but as a first Python project it's proved very challenging and interesting. I'd be pleased if my adaptations were useful to others, and would welcome comments on my implementation.

···

----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Niessink" <frank@niessink.com>
To: <wxPython-users@lists.wxwidgets.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [wxPython-users] cross platform development inquiry

chip nyman:

I've written a desktop calendar end-user applet intended to display artwork by fellow members of an artists' web community. The applet makes heavy use of wxPython, and in particular some adaptations of the wxPython demo classes, particularly the calendar control classes. I've developed the applet on WinXP but intend distributions for Mac OSX and Debian Linux. The initial target audience is also multinational.
Unfortunately I can't maintain multiple platforms for uncovering and tweaking the platform-specific issues that are sure to exist. I'm also in need of assistance producing the Mac and Linux dist packages using py2app and cx_Freeze. Being new to the Python users community, I'm not sure what resources are available for finding help in such a project. An earlier post to pythonmac[SIG] has gotten little response; can anyone from the wxPython-users list suggest some other avenues of inquiry, or be willing themselves to lend a hand?

I have some experience making a desktop application (Task Coach) available on WinXP, Mac OSX and Linux, so I might be able to help. Is your app open source? If so, what license?

Cheers, Frank

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