Python IDE

[Matthias Klose]

On Mo, 2005-02-07 at 08:47 -0500, Sean Kennedy wrote:
> > > > > I think the idea is to be forward thinking... the IDE doesn't need to be provided for the seasoned programmer... those already grew a lot of habbits and you wouldn't be able to convince them to switch.... they also don't mind apt-get-ing what they need...
> > > > > The ideea is to provide an IDE for the begginer programmer... a IDE that would encourage them to contribute...
> > > > >
> > > > > In my view either include an IDE that is geared towards the begginer or don't include any...
> 
> Going after the "beginner programmer" is a great idea, and to do that
> I think you do need a simple and powerful IDE for that purpose.  But
> maybe we should start with going after experienced programmers who are
> new to Python (I put myself in this category).  I think if people with
> some experience were given a set of tools that lets them develop in
> Python (say through an apt meta-package) they would be happy to start
> contributing.  Once it is easy for anyone to have the tools required
> to develop in Python on Ubuntu then it will be easier to develop the
> Python IDE for new programmers (and hopefully it will be good enough
> that current Python developers will use it too).
> 
> I think it would be excellent to type something like "apt-get install
> python-programmer" and get Glade with integrated support for PyGTK, a
> (graphical) debugger, a revision control GUI, and maybe Emacs setup
> for Python development.  This is probably the best place to start, and
> it really could be made available immediately.
> 
> Then I would suggest that we wouldn't need to use Eclipse or Anjuta,
> but could develop a good IDE written in PyGTK that Python programmers
> could improve and extend.  (The problem with Eclipse or Anjuta - even
> if you make an interface to let pluggins be written directly in Python
> - is that the core of the IDE has been developed to make life easier
> for people developing in Java or C/C++ which may be more than required
> for Python, or not enough.  Even if everything useful to a Python
> programmer is included in what is important for a Java or C/C++
> developer, a Python programmer who wants to fix a bug in the core of
> the IDE or add some function that should be part of the core, not part
> of a pluggin, must also be (or become) a Java or C/C++ programmer.  I
> think it is much better to have a Python language IDE for Python
> development for that reason, and also because it does serve as proof
> of Python itself to new developers.)
> 
> So, in a nutshell: lets take whatever tools are currently available
> and useful for Python development, and make them easily accessible
> through a meta-package; then lets start work on developing a Python
> language IDE for Python development.

thanks for your comments. although I do like using the "EDE" (Emacs
development environment), it maybe not appropriate for all.
python-devtools and python-libraries meta-packages are worth adding.

We currently do have more than one IDE in hoary universe:

- Idle, the IDE shipped with the python sources (package python-idle)

- Gazpacho, derived from Idle is a Glade3 rewritten (and extended) in
  Python, etc. I didn't look at it yet. Homepage at
  http://gruppy.sicem.biz/index_html. More a gui designer than an IDE.

- Eric3, an IDE based on the QT widget set (package eric)

- Boa Constructor, an IDE based on the wxwidgets set; the current
  hoary version doesn't play well, please have a look at
  http://people.ubuntu.com/~doko/ for a beta version.

- python-dev, a Python plugin for Eclipse.

- PyPE, an "editor", based on wxwidgets. http://pype.sourceforge.net/
  Currently not packaged.

- Emacs, together with python-mode and pymacs

- Anjuta2 isn't yet released and doesn't support a python plugin yet.

Matthias