[wxPython] which IDE?

Hi
At my workplace (www.cineca.it)
we are starting the development for a big research project
in the field of ScientificVisualization and BioEnginering.
We are going to use VTK as support for the Visualization part,
and I'll like to build the front end using Python and wxPython.

Since the project is going to be "big" I need some debugging facility,
so I'll ask which Developing IDE is best to use to work with wxPython.
I have tryed some, but none of them seems to work fine, most
of them simply crashes at the first error.

--- Thank you
Silvano

···

---------------------------------------------------------------
s.imboden@cineca.it
www.cineca.it/~amb0
---------------------------------------------------------------

Could anyone point me in a direction of all the wxPython constants in one spot
ie things like wxSIMPLE_BORDER etc, but also containing all the colour
constants etc.

Thanks in anticipation.

By way of explanation, I'm forcing myself finally to learn a little
programming to help out in the gnuMed project (www.gnumed.org). I've very
little time because I run a busy full time (70+ hours a week) general
practice. I've tried previously and failed abysmally.

Hence I'm putting out a request for someone who would be prepared to be a
mentor for my learning via email. i.e. someone who can shortcut my many
wasted hours trying to find simple info like the above, or help with simple
syntax where I can't understand the docs., where the question is too basic to
fire at the list, or where I may need several reply emails to understand.

I guess the thing I've noticed very much about LINUX which is also
exemplified on this list, is that there is very little understanding by those
who know, of the huge learning curve for programming for a non-programmer to
overcome before they can get the gist of it and be self supportive. Reading
tutorials is one thing, but in practice when you try and do something its a
huge struggle.

Anyway, I hope some kind soul can help. If so, please email me privately.

Regards

Dr Richard Terry
gnuMed Project.

richard terry wrote:

Could anyone point me in a direction of all the wxPython constants in one spot
ie things like wxSIMPLE_BORDER etc, but also containing all the colour
constants etc.

I don't think there is such a list, and if there were, it would probably
be such a huge conglomeration of stuff, that it wouldn't be useful. The
constants you refer to are (mostly) all in the wxWindows docs, but in
the places where they are relevant. For example, wxSIMPLE_BORDER is in
the list of window styles enumerated in the page on wxWindow. The color
constants are listed in the page on wxColourDataBase.

It sounds like you may be using linux, so I can suggest one way to help
with the wxWindows docs. I have the html version on may machine, and If
I cd to the dor that has all the html pages, I can grep for a work I am
looking for in the docs, and then go look at that page in a browser (I
use KDE, so I can use the file manager, it's pretty nice) greo is a very
useful and powerful tool. It can alos be pretty complex, but is easy to
use in it's simplest form:

grep wxSIMPLE_BORDER *.htm

is how I found the page with the window styles in it.

By way of explanation, I'm forcing myself finally to learn a little
programming to help out in the gnuMed project (www.gnumed.org). I've very
little time because I run a busy full time (70+ hours a week) general
practice. I've tried previously and failed abysmally.

I think you'll just have to accept that there is a lot to learn. If you
go to:

http://wiki.wxpython.org/index.cgi/How_20to_20Learn_20wxPython

you'll see that is is suggested that you learn a fair bit about Python
before trying to work with wxPython. This can be kind of frustrating,
but, as they say, you have to learn to crawl before you can walk. It
sounds like you are trying to learn: programming, the Python language,
and the wxPython toolkit, all in one step. Frankly there is a lot to
learn, and it's only so fast that you can learn it. If you really are
new to programming, make sure to go through one of the docs intended for
thoise new to programming. Alan Guald's book is pretty good
(Learning to program), and there are others.

Also, it sounds like you are new to Linux, so that may be another thing
you are learning. Linux, however is an excelent platform for
programming, as it includes a lot of tools designed to make programming
easy. On Window, you will find that you need to go out and find all
sorts of tools that are just there in Linux (grep being one of them!)
learn to use those command line tools, it's worth it.

Hence I'm putting out a request for someone who would be prepared to be a
mentor for my learning via email. i.e. someone who can shortcut my many
wasted hours trying to find simple info like the above, or help with simple
syntax where I can't understand the docs., where the question is too basic to
fire at the list, or where I may need several reply emails to understand.

I guess the thing I've noticed very much about LINUX which is also
exemplified on this list, is that there is very little understanding by those
who know, of the huge learning curve for programming for a non-programmer to
overcome before they can get the gist of it and be self supportive. Reading
tutorials is one thing, but in practice when you try and do something its a
huge struggle.

It can be a struggle, but for the most part the struggle itself is
instructive. While it may take a while to find the answer to a seemingly
simple question, while you are looking, youare learning how to read man
pages, where your configuratin files are, how to read the wxWindows
docs, where to find good info on the net, whatever. While people
complain a lot about "steep" learning curves, I have found that many
things with such steep learning curves can result if very high
productivity onoced you ahve climbed that curve. Linux is an excellent
example of this. While it took me a couple of years to get really
productive on Linux, I am now far more productive using it thqt I am
with my mac, which I have been using every day for over three years. The
tools I need simple aren't there.

That being said, it can be very frustrating to be all alone in your
struggle. When I was learning Linux, I had a few colleuges that were
learning along with me, and we helped each other figure things out. That
is what I suggest you do; look for others at a similar , or slightly
higher state of learning. Someone who is also learning stands to gain by
helping you figure out your problem. Someone who has this stuff down
cold is simply doing you a favor. We are all pretty helpful here, but
there is a limit. Make sure to look on the Python Tutor list, and I'd
look to others in the gnumed prject, as they also have an interest in
helping you out and getting you to a point where you can contribute.

Anyway, I hope some kind soul can help. If so, please email me privately.

Feel free so send me questions as you have them, if you send too many,
I'll simply stop answering them!

-Chris

···

--
Christopher Barker, Ph.D.
Oceanographer
                                        
NOAA/OR&R/HAZMAT (206) 526-6959 voice
7600 Sand Point Way NE (206) 526-6329 fax
Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317 main reception

Chris.Barker@noaa.gov

you might try looking in your wxPython directory at a file
named wx.py. Around line 161 you'll see a huge list of
(what are essentially) constants: these are the names
imported when you do

from wxPython.wx import *

This set of values coves almost all of the constants used
in wxPython, except those used for wxHTML and a few
other items. In general, you need to look at the .py files
in the wxPython directory as a supplement to the docs
provided elsewhere.

Also, I have used a number of toolkits, some with
books full of stuff (i.e., Microsoft MFC, and others)
and the learning curve is almost always steep for
something as complicated as a GUI toolkit.

···

#--------------------------------
Jeff Sasmor
jeff@sasmor.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "richard terry" <rterry@gnumed.net>
To: <wxpython-users@lists.wxwindows.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 6:49 PM
Subject: [wxPython] list of wxPython constants + Mentor needed

Could anyone point me in a direction of all the wxPython constants in one spot
ie things like wxSIMPLE_BORDER etc, but also containing all the colour
constants etc.

Thanks in anticipation.

By way of explanation, I'm forcing myself finally to learn a little
programming to help out in the gnuMed project (www.gnumed.org). I've very
little time because I run a busy full time (70+ hours a week) general
practice. I've tried previously and failed abysmally.

Hence I'm putting out a request for someone who would be prepared to be a
mentor for my learning via email. i.e. someone who can shortcut my many
wasted hours trying to find simple info like the above, or help with simple
syntax where I can't understand the docs., where the question is too basic to
fire at the list, or where I may need several reply emails to understand.

I guess the thing I've noticed very much about LINUX which is also
exemplified on this list, is that there is very little understanding by those
who know, of the huge learning curve for programming for a non-programmer to
overcome before they can get the gist of it and be self supportive. Reading
tutorials is one thing, but in practice when you try and do something its a
huge struggle.

Anyway, I hope some kind soul can help. If so, please email me privately.

Regards

Dr Richard Terry
gnuMed Project.

_______________________________________________
wxpython-users mailing list
wxpython-users@lists.wxwindows.org
http://lists.wxwindows.org/mailman/listinfo/wxpython-users

Thanks to all those who have offered to help, or given me tips. I will email
privately the folks who are happy to mentor with eternal gratitude.

If there are any other newbies like me on this list I'd be happy to exchange
emails regarding our struggles privately without cluttering the list with
what seems to be trivia to most people! If interested, email me direct.

Thanks to all again.

···

On Friday 24 May 2002 3:30 am, you wrote:

richard terry wrote:
> Could anyone point me in a direction of all the wxPython constants in one
> spot ie things like wxSIMPLE_BORDER etc, but also containing all the
> colour constants etc.

I don't think there is such a list, and if there were, it would probably
be such a huge conglomeration of stuff, that it wouldn't be useful. The
constants you refer to are (mostly) all in the wxWindows docs, but in
the places where they are relevant. For example, wxSIMPLE_BORDER is in
the list of window styles enumerated in the page on wxWindow. The color
constants are listed in the page on wxColourDataBase.

It sounds like you may be using linux, so I can suggest one way to help
with the wxWindows docs. I have the html version on may machine, and If
I cd to the dor that has all the html pages, I can grep for a work I am
looking for in the docs, and then go look at that page in a browser (I
use KDE, so I can use the file manager, it's pretty nice) greo is a very
useful and powerful tool. It can alos be pretty complex, but is easy to
use in it's simplest form:

grep wxSIMPLE_BORDER *.htm

is how I found the page with the window styles in it.

> By way of explanation, I'm forcing myself finally to learn a little
> programming to help out in the gnuMed project (www.gnumed.org). I've very
> little time because I run a busy full time (70+ hours a week) general
> practice. I've tried previously and failed abysmally.

I think you'll just have to accept that there is a lot to learn. If you
go to:

http://wiki.wxpython.org/index.cgi/How_20to_20Learn_20wxPython

you'll see that is is suggested that you learn a fair bit about Python
before trying to work with wxPython. This can be kind of frustrating,
but, as they say, you have to learn to crawl before you can walk. It
sounds like you are trying to learn: programming, the Python language,
and the wxPython toolkit, all in one step. Frankly there is a lot to
learn, and it's only so fast that you can learn it. If you really are
new to programming, make sure to go through one of the docs intended for
thoise new to programming. Alan Guald's book is pretty good
(Learning to program), and there are others.

Also, it sounds like you are new to Linux, so that may be another thing
you are learning. Linux, however is an excelent platform for
programming, as it includes a lot of tools designed to make programming
easy. On Window, you will find that you need to go out and find all
sorts of tools that are just there in Linux (grep being one of them!)
learn to use those command line tools, it's worth it.

> Hence I'm putting out a request for someone who would be prepared to be a
> mentor for my learning via email. i.e. someone who can shortcut my many
> wasted hours trying to find simple info like the above, or help with
> simple syntax where I can't understand the docs., where the question is
> too basic to fire at the list, or where I may need several reply emails
> to understand.
>
> I guess the thing I've noticed very much about LINUX which is also
> exemplified on this list, is that there is very little understanding by
> those who know, of the huge learning curve for programming for a
> non-programmer to overcome before they can get the gist of it and be self
> supportive. Reading tutorials is one thing, but in practice when you try
> and do something its a huge struggle.

It can be a struggle, but for the most part the struggle itself is
instructive. While it may take a while to find the answer to a seemingly
simple question, while you are looking, youare learning how to read man
pages, where your configuratin files are, how to read the wxWindows
docs, where to find good info on the net, whatever. While people
complain a lot about "steep" learning curves, I have found that many
things with such steep learning curves can result if very high
productivity onoced you ahve climbed that curve. Linux is an excellent
example of this. While it took me a couple of years to get really
productive on Linux, I am now far more productive using it thqt I am
with my mac, which I have been using every day for over three years. The
tools I need simple aren't there.

That being said, it can be very frustrating to be all alone in your
struggle. When I was learning Linux, I had a few colleuges that were
learning along with me, and we helped each other figure things out. That
is what I suggest you do; look for others at a similar , or slightly
higher state of learning. Someone who is also learning stands to gain by
helping you figure out your problem. Someone who has this stuff down
cold is simply doing you a favor. We are all pretty helpful here, but
there is a limit. Make sure to look on the Python Tutor list, and I'd
look to others in the gnumed prject, as they also have an interest in
helping you out and getting you to a point where you can contribute.

> Anyway, I hope some kind soul can help. If so, please email me privately.

Feel free so send me questions as you have them, if you send too many,
I'll simply stop answering them!

-Chris