Thursday, February 14, 2002

Pretty far, I hope :) [Will Leshner's Radio Weblog] Blog Tennis seems to be the obvious name for this, but being obvious, it is probably already taken. 11:20:50 PM

I've changed the way that Python Scripts are run. The XML-RPC framework is fast, because you don't have to launch the Python interpreter each time, but there was always the danger that a Python Script could modify the execution environment in a way that would affect subsequent executions. So now I write out a small script that redirects stdout, executes the script, and passes back the results to Radio via XML-RPC. Slower, but safer. This also means that it works more reliably on OS X. I've updated the docs here to reflect the new version. Oh yeah, download a new copy if you want the changes. Next up -- multiple Python Projects. Want to get working -- integrated debugging, better error message processing, more Radio connectivity 10:40:28 PM

Forget referer pages. I made it onto Daypop! 2:35:47 PM

I wonder how far we can take this? 10:43:16 AM

Oh yeah, talking about obsessing over the referer log, I was really excited when I saw Scripting News show up on top. Yeah, I'm sick. 10:03:41 AM

Well, my copy of Radio is remote right now, so I can't update the 'Radio as a Python IDE' story. I feel the need to put a bunch of disclaimers in -- This is NEW SOFTWARE. It's going to be changing a lot in the near future. Things that act one way now will not act that way in the near future. I have big plans. Want to help? Let me know. 10:03:40 AM

A news feed specifically about the Python Tool can be found here. 8:12:40 AM

Some notes... This is NOT a Mac OS X ONLY tool. I used OS X for development at home, and stole slow time at work to make sure it ran well on WinXP. I have a WinXP screen shot, I just haven't uploaded it. I guess the lack of an OS X Python IDE is why it is getting noticed in the Mac world first... Also, for the Mac version, I tested it with the MacPython 2.2 build. If you are using the command-line Python, the method I'm using to locate Python will fail (you won't be able to use the File Dialog to navigate to /usr/local/bin or whereever it is). You could try jumping to pythonData.prefs.pythonApp and putting the path in there directly, but Radio wants a Macintosh path, with ':'s, rather than the Unix path that OS X will support but not require. I'm already having to do a little path hackery when passing file paths to already running Python programs (they want the Unix version), so perhaps there is hope there. Remember, this is a first release. There are bugs. The bug-free experience probably does not exist right now. To steal a line from UserLand, this is Shitty Software, with Bugs. 8:09:07 AM

People are noticing the Python tool: http://www.schockwellenreiter.de/2002/02/14.html#a3816 http://www.deadlybloodyserious.com/Radio/2002/02/14.html#a488 http://radio.weblogs.com/0100438/2002/02/13.html#a433 http://radio.weblogs.com/0001258/categories/tigmarksMac/2002/02/14.html#a96 Yes, I've fallen victim to obsessing over my referererererer log. 8:03:08 AM

Of course, as soon as I let the cat out of the bag about the Python Tool, I start having thoughts about how to radically change things. Like getting rid of the framework. I can use the whole 'Radio renders Python' idea to new levels. I can use frontier.openDataFile to implement Python Projects. I can provide Transcripts and Workspaces. I could do a browser. 1:39:20 AM

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