better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

[warpcat]

I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
with this functionality:

In Maya's mel script editor window, it's split into two sections.
Bottom window you can enter commands (where your script lives), top
window gives results. The thing I'm really used to is highlighting X#
of lines in the bottom window (little snippits from my script), and
executing that selection, with instant feedback of the results on top.
This really speeds my workflow.
It seems completely missing (so far) in Python's IDE. I have to copy
and paste from a script to the ide window to execute and see the
results, or I have to make a bunch of "buffer scripts" with just the
code snippetsI want to test in. Seems *really* clunky.

Does anyone know of a scripting enviroment for Python that mimics what
Maya's script editor has? Much appreciated.

 

[Steve Holden]

I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
with this functionality:

In Maya's mel script editor window, it's split into two sections.
Bottom window you can enter commands (where your script lives), top
window gives results. The thing I'm really used to is highlighting X#
of lines in the bottom window (little snippits from my script), and
executing that selection, with instant feedback of the results on top.
This really speeds my workflow.
It seems completely missing (so far) in Python's IDE. I have to copy
and paste from a script to the ide window to execute and see the
results, or I have to make a bunch of "buffer scripts" with just the
code snippetsI want to test in. Seems *really* clunky.

Does anyone know of a scripting enviroment for Python that mimics what
Maya's script editor has? Much appreciated.

I don't know of anything that exhibits the exact behaviour you describe,
but then again you might like to consider that i found your request very
odd. I'm sure that way of testing code seems entirely natural to you,
but I can honestly say that in almost ten years using Python it's not
something I have ever wished for.

You might also wish to reconsider your approach to the Python community.
"PythonWin sucks" isn't my idea of how to win friends and influence
people in a first posting to a usenet newsgroup. By and large we are a
friendly bunch here, but you don't want to start off on the wrong foot

Take a look at DrPython (http://drpython.sourceforge.net/) - you might
be able to script it to do what you want, and anyway it's more of a
lightweight interface than PythonWin so you might find it less intrusive.

[Irrelevant ramble: Man, SoureceForge really know how to screw a web
site up. I'm guessing they think that the changes of the last year are
"improvements". Boy are they wrong. What a mess!]

regards
Steve

 

[Kay Schluehr]

I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE.

http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments

 

[Slawomir Nowaczyk]

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:40:48 -0700

#> I'm using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better,
#> mainly with this functionality:

*Assuming* I understood your description correctly, python-mode in
Emacs does what you want. Emacs is hardly a substitute for PythonWin,
though: the learning curve is quite steep.

--
Best wishes,
Slawomir Nowaczyk
( (e-mail address removed) )

If you're constantly looking behind you, you may miss the frontal attack.

 

[warpcat]

I'm not sure where you got "pythonwin sucks" from my text (none of
those words are there). Saying one aspect of a piece of software is
clunky to "me" (if that's what you're refering too?) or saying the
whole software "sucks" are pretty different IMO. All I stated is that
it's very different from how I'm used to working. I didn't mean any
disrespect, but I do appreciate your info!

 

[Steve Holden]

I'm not sure where you got "pythonwin sucks" from my text (none of
those words are there). Saying one aspect of a piece of software is
clunky to "me" (if that's what you're refering too?) or saying the
whole software "sucks" are pretty different IMO. All I stated is that
it's very different from how I'm used to working. I didn't mean any
disrespect, but I do appreciate your info!

No offence taken - I was clearly reading too much into your words.

regards
Steve

 

[Scott David Daniels]

I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
with this functionality:

I'm not certain, but you could take a look at Komodo from ActiveState.
I do have an interactive window, edit window(s), and an output window.
You can get a free trial from them, as I remember.

--Scott David Daniels
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Ten]

I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
with this functionality:

In Maya's mel script editor window, it's split into two sections.
Bottom window you can enter commands (where your script lives), top
window gives results. The thing I'm really used to is highlighting X#
of lines in the bottom window (little snippits from my script), and
executing that selection, with instant feedback of the results on top.
This really speeds my workflow.
It seems completely missing (so far) in Python's IDE. I have to copy
and paste from a script to the ide window to execute and see the
results, or I have to make a bunch of "buffer scripts" with just the
code snippetsI want to test in. Seems *really* clunky.

Does anyone know of a scripting enviroment for Python that mimics what
Maya's script editor has? Much appreciated.

It may not be much of an answer as many people don't want to learn emacs (or
vi for that matter), but emacs does this, specifically the separate buffers
and the ability to highlight and execute parts of your code to test it.

If you get into emacs, it's worth the time invested. The learning curve's
alleged to be steep, but it isn't that bad, I use it and I'm as dumb as a
stump. It's a very good IDE for everyday use.

Good luck,

Ten

 

[Christian Convey]

If you get into emacs, it's worth the time invested. The learning curve's
alleged to be steep, but it isn't that bad, I use it and I'm as dumb as a
stump. It's a very good IDE for everyday use.

Not to get into the classic emacs/vi/etc. argument, but from my
experience emacs has never been a good learning investment.

For an editor (on Linux) I just use Kate or Gedit, which have syntax
highlighting. For debugging, I use the print statement, because I
haven't found an interactive debugger that I like.

I did try Eclipse's "PyDev" module. It was OK, but I found Eclipse to
have so much screen clutter and so-so responsiveness, so I decided to
not keep on using it.

KDevelop now has support for Python coding, but no Python debugger yet.
It also doesn't support tab completions for Python (that I'm aware of).

So for now, I've found just a plain old text editor, plus print
statements, to be the right choice for me.

--
Christian Convey
Computer Scientist,
Naval Undersea Warfare Centers
Newport, RI
(401) 832-6824
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Russell Warren]

Check out the Wing IDE - www.wingware.com .

As part of it's general greatness it has a "debug probe" which lets you
execute code snippets on active data in mid-debug execution.

It doesn't have precisely what you are after... you can't (yet)
highlight code segments and say "run this, please", but I think it
might almost have what you want for general workflow improvement.

The main drawback is that it is a commercial product, albeit "cheap".
The extra drawback is that the debug probe feature requires the
professional version which is "less cheap", but still < $200. Well
worth it for professional development IMO.

They have a great demo policy... you should check it out. I tried
several different IDEs (I've become accustomed to using IDEs over
supe'd up text editors) and Wing was/is my favorite.