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Diffstat (limited to 'Misc/FAQ')
| -rw-r--r-- | Misc/FAQ | 118 |
1 files changed, 79 insertions, 39 deletions
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@ Subject: FAQ: Python -- an object-oriented language -Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc,comp.answers,news.answers -Followup-to: comp.lang.misc +Newsgroups: comp.lang.python,comp.answers,news.answers +Followup-to: comp.lang.python From: guido@cwi.nl (Guido van Rossum) Reply-to: guido@cwi.nl (Guido van Rossum) Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Archive-name: python-faq/part1 -Version: 1.5 -Last-modified: 15 Feb 1994 +Version: 1.6 +Last-modified: 11 April 1994 This article contains answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Python (an object-oriented interpreted programming language -- see @@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Email: guido@cwi.nl The latest version of this FAQ is available by anonymous ftp from ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory /pub/python, with filename python-FAQ. It will also be posted regularly to the -newsgroups comp.answers and comp.lang.misc. +newsgroups comp.answers and comp.lang.python. Many FAQs, including this one, are available by anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu [18.70.0.209] in the directory pub/usenet/news.answers. @@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ Here's an overview of the questions per chapter: 1.6. Q. Is there a book on Python, or will there be one out soon? 1.7. Q. Are there any published articles about Python that I can quote? 1.8. Q. How does the Python version numbering scheme work? + 1.9. Q. Are there other ftp sites that carry Python related material? 2. Python in the real world 2.1. Q. How many people are using Python? @@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ Here's an overview of the questions per chapter: 3.5. Q. The python interpreter complains about options passed to a script (after the script name). 3.6. Q. When building on the SGI, make tries to run python to create - glmodule.c, but python hasn't been built or installed yet. + glmodule.c, but python hasn't been built or installed yet. 3.7. Q. Other trouble building Python 1.0.1 on platform X. 4. Programming in Python @@ -161,35 +162,38 @@ down). A. Apart from being a computer wizard, I'm also a fan of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (a BBC comedy series from the seventies, in -case you didn't know). It occurred to me one day that I needed a name -that was short, unique, and slightly mysterious. And I happened to be -reading some scripts from the series at the time... So then I decided -to call my language Python. But Python is not a joke. And don't you -associate it with dangerous reptiles either! +the -- unlikely -- case you didn't know). It occurred to me one day +that I needed a name that was short, unique, and slightly mysterious. +And I happened to be reading some scripts from the series at the +time... So then I decided to call my language Python. But Python is +not a joke. And don't you associate it with dangerous reptiles +either! 1.3. Q. How do I obtain a copy of the Python source? A. The latest Python source distribution is always available by anonymous ftp from ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory -/pub/python, with filename python<version>.tar.Z. It is a compressed -tar file containing the complete C source, LaTeX documentation, Python -library modules, example programs, and several useful pieces of freely -distributable software. This will compile and run out of the box on -most UNIX platforms. Currently <version> is 1.0.1. (See section 7 -for non-UNIX information.) +/pub/python, with filename python<version>.tar.Z. (In the future and +on some archive sites the extension will be .gz, indicating use of +gzip compression.) It is a compressed (gzip'ed if the extension is +.gz) tar file containing the complete C source, LaTeX documentation, +Python library modules, example programs, and several useful pieces of +freely distributable software. This will compile and run out of the +box on most UNIX platforms. At the time of writing, <version> is +1.0.1. (See section 7 for non-UNIX information.) 1.4. Q. How do I get documentation on Python? A. The latest Python documentation set is always available by anonymous ftp from ftp.cwi.nl [192.16.184.180] in the directory -/pub/python, with filename pythondoc-ps<version>.tar.Z. It is a -compressed tar file containing PostScript files of the reference -manual, the library manual, and the tutorial. Currently <version> is -1.0.1. (Note that the library manual is the most important one of the -set, as much of Python's power stems from the standard or built-in -types, functions and modules, all of which are described here.) -PostScript for a high-level description of Python is in the file -nluug-paper.ps. +/pub/python, with filename pythondoc-ps<version>.tar.Z. (Or .gz -- +see the previous question.) It is a compressed (or gzip'ed) tar file +containing PostScript files of the reference manual, the library +manual, and the tutorial. At the time of writing <version> is 1.0.1. +Note that the library manual is the most important one of the set, as +much of Python's power stems from the standard or built-in types, +functions and modules, all of which are described here. PostScript +for a high-level description of Python is in the file nluug-paper.ps. The following sites keep mirrors of the Python distribution: @@ -199,18 +203,18 @@ gatekeeper.dec.com 16.1.0.2 /pub/plan/python/cwi ftp.uu.net 192.48.96.9 /languages/python ftp.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 /graphics/graphics/sgi-stuff/python ftp.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/languages/python (old?) -ftp.fu-berlin.de 130.133.4.50 /pub/unix/languages/python (python* only) +ftp.fu-berlin.de 130.133.4.50 /pub/unix/languages/python (*python* only) -Or try archie on e.g. python1.0.1.tar.Z to locate the nearest copy of -that version... +Or try archie on e.g. python1.0 to locate the nearest copy of that +version... 1.5. Q. Is there a newsgroup or mailing list devoted to Python? -A. There is no Python newsgroup yet; if you want to post to the net -about Python, use comp.lang.misc. There is a mailing list devoted to -Python; send e-mail to python-list-request@cwi.nl to (un)subscribe. A -Request For Discussion about create comp.lang.python has been posted -to news.groups. So far it has not elicited any negative responses. +A. There is a newsgroup, comp.lang.python, and a mailing list. The +newsgroup and mailing list are gatewayed into each other -- if you can +read news it is not necessary to subscribe to the mailing list. Send +e-mail to python-list-request@cwi.nl to (un)subscribe to the mailing +list. 1.6. Q. Is there a book on Python, or will there be one out soon? @@ -254,22 +258,35 @@ incremented for each new release. Note that in the past, patches have added significant changes; in fact the changeover from 0.9.9 to 1.0.0 was the first time that either A or B changed! +1.9. Q. Are there other ftp sites that carry Python related material? + +A. An interesting ftp site for Python users is ftp.markv.com +(192.122.251.1); the directory pub/python contains a growing +collection of interesting Python scripts. To submit a script for +inclusion, place it together with a readme file (with extension +.readme) in the publicly writable directory /incoming/python. This +service is maintained by Lance Ellinghouse <lance@markv.com>. + + 2. Python in the real world =========================== 2.1. Q. How many people are using Python? -A. I don't know, but at the last count there were at least 130 -addresses on the Python mailing list (several of which are local -redistribution lists). I suspect that many users don't bother -to subscribe to the list. +A. I don't know, but the maximum number of simultaneous subscriptions +to the Python mailing list before it was gatewayed into the newsgroup +was about 180 (several of which were local redistribution lists). I +believe that many active Python users don't bother to subscribe to the +list, and now that there's a newsgroup the mailing list subscription +is even less meaningful. 2.2. Q. Have any significant projects been done in Python? A. Here at CWI (the home of Python), we have written a 20,000 line authoring environment for transportable hypermedia presentations, a -multimedia teleconferencing tool, as well as many smaller programs. +5,000 line multimedia teleconferencing tool, as well as many many +smaller programs. The University of Virginia uses Python to control a virtual reality engine. Contact: Matt Conway <conway@virginia.edu>. @@ -286,7 +303,7 @@ manangement application. Contact: <info@sunrise.com>. Individuals at many other companies are using Python for internal development (witness their contributions to the Python -mailing list). +mailing list or newsgroup). Python has also been elected as an extension language by MADE, a consortium supported by the European Committee's ESPRIT program and @@ -632,6 +649,20 @@ you can get the file pythonlib1.0.1.tar.Z from most ftp sites carrying Python; this is a subset of the distribution containing just those file. +Once you have installed the library, you need to point sys.path to it. +Assuming the library is in C:\misc\python\lib, the following commands +will point your Python interpreter to it (note the doubled backslashes +-- you can also use single forward slashes instead): + + >>> import sys + >>> sys.path.insert(0, 'C:\\misc\\python\\lib') + >>> + +For a more permanent effect, set the environment variable PYTHONPATH, +as follows (talking to a DOS prompt): + + C> SET PYTHONPATH=C:\misc\python\lib + 7.6. Q. Where's the documentation for the Mac or PC version? A. There isn't any. The documentation for the Unix version also @@ -649,3 +680,12 @@ System 7. I work like this: start the interpreter; edit a module file using Sigma Edit; import and test it in the interpreter; edit again in Sigma Edit; then use the built-in function reload() to re-read the imported module; etc. + +Regarding the same question for the PC, Kurt Wm. Hemr writes: "While +anyone with a pulse could certainly figure out how to do the same on +MS-Windows, I would recommend the NotGNU Emacs clone for MS-Windows. +Not only can you easily resave and "reload()" from Python after making +changes, but since WinNot auto-copies to the clipboard any text you +select, you can simply select the entire procedure (function) which +you changed in WinNot, switch to QWPython, and shift-ins to reenter +the changed program unit." |