from vb6 to Python

[MarcoL]

Hello,
I am a VB6 programmer and I would like to learn a new high level
language (instead of restarting from scratch with .NET), wich is
opensource and cross-platform, in order to develop cross-platform
business applications
I think Python is the most suitable language for the scope.
My question are:

- Which version of python is more suitable for creating cross-platform
GUI's? I've herard of PyGTK, wxPython, PyQT, tk, Anygui..

- What is the best IDE/RAD for Python (written in Python and OpenSource)

- Does exist a tool (written in Python and OpenSource) like Crystal
Report for creating business reports?

- Does exist a tool (written in Python and OpenSource) for makeing
tables, view, querys, relation of a database and generate the SQL script?

- Is it possible, from Python, to work with sqlite? And with MsAccess?

Thanks for your patience and your help.


Marco.

 

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Gerhard_H=E4ring?=]

Hello,
I am a VB6 programmer and I would like to learn a new high level
language (instead of restarting from scratch with .NET), wich is
opensource and cross-platform, in order to develop cross-platform
business applications
I think Python is the most suitable language for the scope.
My question are:

- Which version of python is more suitable for creating cross-platform
GUI's? I've herard of PyGTK, wxPython, PyQT, tk, Anygui..

It's a matter of taste. I like wxPython best. It would probably be
different if PyQT was also open-source on win32.

- What is the best IDE/RAD for Python (written in Python and OpenSource)

You should check out ERIC/Qt. If you need to target Windows, then you
can consider buying a win32 Qt/PyQt license.

The best IDE I've seen so far is WingIDE (commercial).

- Does exist a tool (written in Python and OpenSource) like Crystal
Report for creating business reports?

Reportlab is the closest I know.

- Does exist a tool (written in Python and OpenSource) for makeing
tables, view, querys, relation of a database and generate the SQL script?

Rekall is the closest.

- Is it possible, from Python, to work with sqlite? And with MsAccess?

Yes.

pysqlite (http://pysqlite.org/), and pyado, if by MsAccess you mean
using the JET engine via ADO.

HTH,

-- Gerhard

 

[stevev]

Try PythonCard. It should provide the easiest learning curve given
your VB background.

 

[Martijn Faassen]

Good for you! And Python is a good choice.

It's a matter of taste. I like wxPython best. It would probably be
different if PyQT was also open-source on win32.

Note that these are not really 'versions of Python'. These are different
Python bindings or libraries (that you import as modules and packages in
the normal way) that offer GUI facilities.

For cross-platform GUIs wxPython seems to be popular, though I've never
used it myself.

[snip snip]

Yes.

pysqlite (http://pysqlite.org/), and pyado, if by MsAccess you mean
using the JET engine via ADO.

Python can basically work with virtually any database; there are
bindings for many. You can also access MsAccess through ODBC, though
it's been a few years since I did that.

See the database topic guide:

http://www.python.org/topics/database/

And this is a list of database bindings:

http://www.python.org/topics/database/modules.html

Regards,

Martijn

 

[Martijn Faassen]

Good for you! And Python is a good choice.

It's a matter of taste. I like wxPython best. It would probably be
different if PyQT was also open-source on win32.

Note that these are not really 'versions of Python'. These are different
Python bindings or libraries (that you import as modules and packages in
the normal way) that offer GUI facilities.

For cross-platform GUIs wxPython seems to be popular, though I've never
used it myself.

[snip snip]

Yes.

pysqlite (http://pysqlite.org/), and pyado, if by MsAccess you mean
using the JET engine via ADO.

Python can basically work with virtually any database; there are
bindings for many. You can also access MsAccess through ODBC, though
it's been a few years since I did that.

See the database topic guide:

http://www.python.org/topics/database/

And this is a list of database bindings:

http://www.python.org/topics/database/modules.html

Regards,

Martijn

 

[houbahop]

Hi,
I have used VB6 a lot too and Python appears to me as a good alternative to
..net too, but
the thing that will do the difference is the GUI... I hope the ones for
Python are beautifull enough as appearence is an important thing to me in
softwares.
D.

 

[Luis M. Gonzalez]

Hello,
I am a VB6 programmer and I would like to learn a new high level
language (instead of restarting from scratch with .NET...

I'd like to add that by going with Python, you'll also be able to
develop for .NET. Check this out: www.ironpython.com .
Since the development of Ironpython is now being funded by Microsoft,
you'll get the best of both worlds: An already excellent
cross-platform, object oriented language and a fully compliant .NET
language for Windows and Linux (through Mono and DotGnu).

For now, I suggest using PythonCard for building GUI apps. It is *very*
easy to learn and use, especially for someone coming from VB6.

 

[Martijn Faassen]

I'd like to add that by going with Python, you'll also be able to
develop for .NET. Check this out: www.ironpython.com .
Since the development of Ironpython is now being funded by Microsoft,
you'll get the best of both worlds: An already excellent
cross-platform, object oriented language and a fully compliant .NET
language for Windows and Linux (through Mono and DotGnu).

Unfortunately this is currently not near production use, and whether
Microsoft is funding IronPython development is up in the air:

One IronPython fan noted a disconcerting silence in IronPython development:

http://usefulinc.com/edd/blog/contents/2004/12/09-jvm/read

Of course it'll all resolve itself one way or another eventually, just
wanted to correct the impression that IronPython is ready to go already.

Regards,

Martijn

 

[MarcoL]

Hello,
I am a VB6 programmer and I would like to learn a new high level ....
My question are:
....
- What is the best IDE/RAD for Python (written in Python and OpenSource)

Can anybody tell me anything about the IDE Spe?

Thanks

Marco

 

[Nigel Rowe]

MarcoL wrote:

Can anybody tell me anything about the IDE Spe?

Thanks

Marco

http://projects.blender.org/projects/spe/
and
http://projects.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/spe-user

should cover most questions

 

[Luis M. Gonzalez]

Unfortunately this is currently not near production use, and whether
Microsoft is funding IronPython development is up in the air:

It's true that he Ironpython's mailing list is a little bit innactive,
but this is just because there's only one person in charge of
Ironpython at this moment (although Microsoft was looking to hire a new
developer to help on this). However, the innactivity is due to the fact
that Jim Hugunin, its developer, has begun working for MS just a couple
of months ago, and as he says, there are tons of new CLR features to
learn that are applicable to dynamic languages.

You should also give credit to Jim: he's the man who developed Jython,
which is a complete inplementation of Python written in Java.
He also created Numeric and co-authored Aspect, another programming
language.
So I'm sure that Ironpython will be a reality soon, and a very good
one...

 

[Fredrik Lundh]

Unfortunately this is currently not near production use, and whether Microsoft is funding
IronPython development is up in the air:

http://www.microsoft.com/careers/search/details.aspx?JobID=6391a54a-bfd7-4384-b18f-cecb0acf86e0

(too bad it's in seattle)

</F>

 

[Martijn Faassen]

It's true that he Ironpython's mailing list is a little bit innactive,
but this is just because there's only one person in charge of
Ironpython at this moment (although Microsoft was looking to hire a new
developer to help on this).

A new developer is interesting news and makes it more likely the future
funding status is assured.

However, the innactivity is due to the fact
that Jim Hugunin, its developer, has begun working for MS just a couple
of months ago, and as he says, there are tons of new CLR features to
learn that are applicable to dynamic languages.

I realize that, and I'm sure that impacts things. That doesn't change
the fact that IronPython as it stands now isn't done, and there isn't a
clear idea of what will happen. Talk about "open source doesn't have a
clear roadmap"; that seems to be true at least if Microsoft is doing the
open source.

You should also give credit to Jim: he's the man who developed Jython,
which is a complete inplementation of Python written in Java.
He also created Numeric and co-authored Aspect, another programming
language.

I know who Jim is, and he deserves plenty of credit. I'm just passing
along the concerns of a major IronPython fan, who doesn't know what's up
himself and wants to fork the code. That's at the very least not a sign
of good community management.

So I'm sure that Ironpython will be a reality soon, and a very good
one...

I was pointing out that IronPython is *not* a reality right now, which
is the impression that was being given to a newbie before. I wanted to
counter an impression that might cause newbies to struggle with
IronPython only to find out it's not ready yet. Whether IronPython will
be mature soon is open for debate.

Regards,

Martijn

 

[djlawler]

There is a really good IDE for python - wxpython - wxwidgets called boa
constructor. It is very 'Visual Basic like'.

http://boa-constructor.sourceforge.net/

I highly recommend it. I works well whether you want to use the built
in features to create applications - or 'do it yourself'. It even has
built in debugging - oh - and it runs on Windows and Linux (probably
even Mac).

Enjoy!

David Lawler
(Signature removed for your protection)