May 23rd 2006: PythonCard 0.8.2 released. RPM's are now available for Mandriva Linux release 2006.0 and Mandrake Linux release 10.2
Binary package: PythonCard-0.8.2-1mdk.noarch.rpm (3,321,679 bytes)
Matching source RPM: PythonCard-0.8.2-1mdk.src.rpm (2,710,862 bytes)
The RPM will install PythonCard as follows:
- Framework in /usr/lib/python2.x/site-packages/PythonCard
- Documentation in /usr/share/doc/PythonCard-0.8.1
- Tools (resource editor, code editor, etc) in /usr/share/PythonCard/tools
- Sample apps and samples.py launcher in /usr/share/PythonCard/samples
The resource and code editors are added to your window manager menu under Applications --> Development.
If you have any problems installing these RPM's, please either mail me directly, or post a message to the PythonCard users mailing list.
During the summer of 2002, I came across a marvellous bit of Python development software called PythonCard. It's a GUI toolkit which provides a very high level interface to the wxPython (http://wxpython.org) framework. PythonCard has it's own page on Sourceforge, http://pythoncard.sourceforge.net with full details.
PythonCard takes the tedium out of developing GUI's with wxPython, leaving you to concentrate on the functionality of your application. I've played around with it over the summer, and I've been singing its praises to anybody who will listen ever since. A brief summary of the salient features is as follows:
- Requires Python 2.2.1 or higher (2.3.3 recommended) and wxPython 2.4 or later (2.4.2.4 recommended)
- Cross platform - apps can be written and will run on Linux, MacOS and Windows
- Interface designer is provided, together with a nice Python code editor
- Interactive debugging is possible using PyCrust
- Object oriented, event driven development paradigm
- Doesn't prevent the programmer from using native wxPython if she so wishes.
Having played about with Tk/Inter, wxPython and BoaConstructor at various times, it was such a relief to find a toolkit that actually does what it says on the tin and leaves me alone to get on with the business of writing code that does what I want.
My first 'major' project using PythonCard is a photographic imaging management package to replace the pile of shit that Fuji have the audacity to bundle with their digicams and call software. Mosey on over to the PIMP Project page to learn more, but before you do, go and download a copy of PythonCard for yourself and you'll see what I mean! And don't forget to e-mail the author to tell him how much you like it. If you want to mention my name, as well, so much the better. :-)
