[Dev] Python and end user apps

[Kevin Altis]

If the licenses allow it, on Windows it is a simple process to create a
standalone exe using Thomas Heller's py2exe that will bundle up all the
necessary Python, wxPython, ZODB, etc. into a single directory with a
double-clickable EXE file. The user won't need anything else. Gordon
McMillan's installer can do something similiar on Linux, but I haven't used
it, so I can't comment on the simplicity of the final package. I think that
Jack Jansen and other Mac folks are working on something similiar for Mac OS
X or Gordon's installer will be adaptable to that platform.

In short, it should be possible to create a Chandler distribution that uses
Python, but end users will never know it.

http://py2exe.sourceforge.net/

http://www.mcmillan-inc.com/install1.html

ka

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dev-admin at osafoundation.org [mailto:dev-admin at osafoundation.org]On
> Behalf Of Robert Roebling
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 12:10 PM
> To: dev at osafoundation.org
> Subject: [Dev] Python and end user apps
>
>
>   Hi all,
>
> I have been looking at this project for a while now
> and I am amazed how much attention press-wise this
> project received given its software doesn't exist
> yet. Obviously, I am jealous :-)
>
> Anyways, one reason for my interest in this project
> is its choice of Python as its programming language
> and its determination to appeal to "a majority" as
> I read in a post by some of the OSA people recently.
>
> Everyone has heard of the "DLL-Hell under Windows"
> and installing a non-default version of GNOME under
> Linux is alomst certain to ruin your printing system,
> your newsreader, or you won't be able to log in any
> more. All minor problems for a programmer with some
> experience in installation routines. But "a majority"
> is generally not fond of that. Obviously again, you
> know all that.
>
> Now when I look at the architecture of this project
> and when I read the posts here on the list, I see
> a true plethora of libraries and technologies which
> are supposed to be integrated: Python, wxPython, ZOPE,
> maybe the Berkeley DB etc. I keep wondering if you
> expect end users "of the majority" to install all
> these? Or if you only target users whose computers
> have been set up by system administrators - if the
> latter is true, then my question is all caused by
> my misunderstanding of your target group.
>
> On the other hand, if you choose wxPython as your
> toolkit you will be able to write some C++ frontend
> with wxWindows rather easily if you decide to do so.
>
> That said, I'm looking forward to seeing your project
> turn real. If you have questions about the wxWindows
> library - just ask since I'm likely be able to answer
> them.
>
>   Robert
>
> --
> Robert Roebling, MD <robert.roebling at medizin.uni-ulm.de>