When I first ventured into the NewsHeap project, I had several goals

• Converge on a compelling Win32 desktop aggregator
• Advance the state of the art in the Ruby space
• Provide a platform for building the features I want in a feedreader

The scorecard to date is:

Ruby The introduction of the Ruby RSS parser advances the state of Ruby by providing a flexible, real-world capable RSS capability. The OPML parser is in the same camp.
The rub with Ruby is the extant challenge with providing a compelling Win32 GUI.
...
In all other respects, Ruby remains a fun, powerful and expressive vehicle for development.
..
Mitigation Strategy Over a four hour period, I coded up a Python version of NewsHeap and rapidly converging on a base set of functionality. Although my colon hurts and I've been bitten by tabs vs spaces several times, I'm much further along.

I won't ascribe this to the strength of Python the language, but rather the completeness of the environment surrounding it. wxPython is rich, the demos easily extractable and seems very capable.

I'm going to continue drilling down into the Python version and see where it goes. More on which later. [manicwave]

So much for that. I've hacked a little in Python, so that will be easier anyway. I'm thinking about trying to hook NewsHeap's backend up to a Cocoa UI via PyObjC. Not to replace NetNewsWire but for kicks and to provide a platform for experimentation with RSS, blogging, aggregation, etc.

BTW, Jeff's comment about the completeness of the Python environment vs. Ruby's is what I was getting at in my comment regarding Perl/CPAN below. Jeff tells me that Python does have a CPAN like facility. I need to look into that. Jeff also pointed me to Boa Constructor, a Python IDE and wxPython GUI builder. With wxMac in beta, it might be fun to compare a wxMac to an IB frontend.

(While we're on the topic, I'll note that Chandler [see earlier post on topic] is being written in Python using wxPython, and the OSAF is actually funding improvements to wxPython for MacOS.)
comment []  trackback []  4:59:25 PM    

I had wondered why I couldn't bring up the site when I was testing links in my post last night.
comment []  trackback []  4:15:07 PM    

There is some deep stuff starting here, and I'm just starting to dig into it, but I thought I'd go ahead and pass it along. The notion of open spectrum is truly mind-blowing, and David Weinberg's Why Open Spectrum Matters essay certainly lays out the potential upside, but I can't help thinking that there needs to be some discussion of the potential negative impacts, as well. This is radical change that is being discussed and we risk leaving people behind who ought to brought along. Don't think there won't be strong resistance, too, from those profiting from the status quo. Just look at the RIAA's recent activities for examples of how government and industry can work together to impede the changes emerging from new technologies.
comment []  trackback []  6:42:45 AM