[wxPython-dev] ipython like features in pyshell/pycrust

[Bill Baxter]

On 3/26/07, Robin Dunn <robin at alldunn.com> wrote:
> Nevare Stark wrote:
> > I have added some small features to pyshell/pycrust that are similar to
> > ipython :
> >
> > - calling functions even without ending parentheses :
> >  >>> dir
> > --> dir()
> > ['__builtins__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__name__', 'a', 'filling',
> > 'magic', 'notebook', 'pp', 'shell', 'yam', 'yaml']
> >
> > - magical functions that takes the rest of the line whatever is it as a
> > string parameter (and I implemented a few) :
> >  >>> pwd
> > '/home/nevare'
> >  >>> cd Desktop
> > '/home/nevare/Desktop'
> >  >>> exe date
> > 'samedi 24 mars 2007, 20:11:38 (UTC+0100)\n'
> >
> > - a special magical function : '?' that can be placed before or after an
> > object and returns its doc
> >  >>> ?dir
> > Python Library Documentation: built-in function dir in module __builtin__
> >
> > dir(...)
> >     dir([object]) -> list of strings
> >
> >     Return an alphabetized list of names comprising (some of) the attributes
> >     of the given object, and of attributes reachable from it:
> >
> > Would you be interested in having me commenting a bit my code and make a
> > patch that could be integrated in pyshell ?
>
> Yes, these sound like useful things.  Please also add ways for the user
> to discover these features at runtime, such as text in the help dialog
> or etc.  Maybe it's time we gave PyShell/PyCrust a real help document...
>
>
> >
> > I would also like to give it a better completion (it is limited for the
> > time being).
>
> In what way?
>
>
> >
> > And also had some features that enable people to write python modules
> > entirely in a shell. Like :
> > export.file = '~/Desktop/parrot.py'
> > class parrot
> >     ...
> > math.__init__ = ...
> > def isDead(self,...):
> >     ...
> > math.isDead = isDead
> > math.isMoving = ...
> > export(math)
> >
> > And it would export refactored source code of the math class and all its
> > modifications to the .py file.
> > Don't you think that would be cool ?
>
> Cool?  Yes.  Useful?  Maybe.  Something that would be commonly used?  I
> don't know.  I guess I would have to see it in action to be able to
> decide if I really like it or not.
>
> >
> > I suppose you wouldn't be interested to have me work on it for the
> > summer of code. (well I understand it's not really related to core of
> > wxpython).
>
> I think it would certainly apply as a SoC project.  PyShell has become
> an important part of wxPython, and I think that any SoC projects that
> benefit things related to wxPython are just as important to the project
> as a whole as those that are related to the core.  Go ahead and submit a
> proposal.

Just wanted to chime in to say I was a firm devotee of PyShell, but
eventually I had to give it up because it lacked features available in
ipython.

Something to watch out for, though, is that I believe ipython also has
the goal of eventually breaking free of the tyranny of gnu readline
and becoming a truly reusable component that could work with any front
end.   If/when that happens then it would probably make more sense to
actually incorporate ipython's command processor into wxShell rather
than re-implementing ipython's features one by one.


I don't really understand your proposed module writing feature, but I
will say that I find typing functions directly into python to be very
frustrating.  It would be nice to have a little pop-up multi-line text
editor for times when you want to enter a short function directly.

--bb