[Dev] Python and end user apps

[Robert Roebling]

  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@medizin.uni-ulm.de>