[wxpython-users] Google Summer of Code - application deadline extended

[Kevin Ollivier]

Hi Peter,

On Apr 2, 2008, at 11:45 PM, Peter Damoc wrote:

> Another idea:
>
> - A predefined AppFrame framework that will allow rapid creation of  
> applications following a certain user interaction paradigm.
> I'm thinking about something like what you see in iTunes, IPhoto,  
> Finder:
>   -  TopBar+SplitCenter+BottomBar
>   -  The Split Center should be a simple 2 sides split with the  
> first taking a "zone/subzone selection" control that is a 2 level  
> tree and a the second panel from the split being the actual zone  
> that is selected.
>   -  The way to build applications with this framework would be by  
> defining the Zones and having the framework create the left panel  
> automatically from the zone definition.
>   -  The Top and Bottom toolbars should respect FIXED vertical sizes  
> for uniformity.
>
> The main advantage to such a framework is that it will skyrocket the  
> "cool" factor of wxPython and maybe attract more new users. Another  
> advantage is that it will encourage code decoupling (at least I  
> think it will).

IMHO this would be a nice "showcase application" for the SoC project  
for making wxPython more MVC-oriented. Once you decouple your model  
from your view, making reusable views and frames/dialogs like this  
becomes so much easier to do. So, with the MVC SoC project idea, what  
you'd do to make this happen is just write the code for your frame,  
then instantiate it and do appFrame.treeView.SetModel(myTreeItems),  
and it would populate the tree view from your data, then setup  
callbacks so that if you do myTreeItems[0].text = "new text", for  
example, it would fire a callback on the treeView and tell it to  
update the text for that item (by default, at least), and vice-versa  
if someone edits the label in the treeView. The end result is that  
your view and data code isn't intertwined anymore, and so you're free  
to share that view with others who could use it without having to  
write a bunch of code to get it working with their data set.

Not only that, but it makes it simple to attach multiple views to your  
data, and have them all update in real time to changes in your data,  
or to do things like switch views on the fly. :-) Some of the  
suggestions in wxPython in Action for more MVC-oriented coding are  
good, but we could do so much more if it was formalized into the  
toolkit.

I'd also like to see a reusable PreferencesDialog as well. There's  
something that every app writes and it seems everyone writes different  
UIs each time. If we had a slick "preferencesView" that could be  
reused, then people just need to specify the data items, icons, and  
callbacks for when each pref is changed.

Anyway, I think lack of MVC separation is what keeps views like this  
from being made and reused, and right now, the design that a lot of wx  
controls store their own data items and expect you to feed them data  
from your model by hand make reusable views somewhat difficult to  
create. I think if we get away from that, the sky is the limit. :-)

Thanks,

Kevin

>
> Peter.
>
> On undefined, Andrea Gavana <andrea.gavana at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 7:57 PM, Peter Damoc wrote:
> > Here is another idea:
> >
> > - Implement a solid, good looking, multi-threadead (background  
> loading),
> > Thumbnail View Control of a directory. Plug-in friendly  
> architecture for
> > "file actions" like Crop, Resize, Sent in email, etc. Also, plug- 
> in friendly
> > for custom "thumbs" of certain filetypes.
> >
> > :) There is code around for this kind of a job. Andrea already has  
> a nice
> > control that does this more or less. The target is to get it  
> looking spiffy.
> >
> > I have a direct interest in such a beast so I'm willing to mentor  
> on this if
> > I qualify as a mentor :)
>
> This is a nice idea :-D
> Although my ThumbnailCtrl already exists, I have received many e-mails
> asking for improvements and features which at the moment I can't
> implement. I won't steal Peter's proposal to be a mentor, although I
> am also willing to mentor such a beast :-D :-D
>
> No offence Peter ;-) !
>
> Andrea.
>
> "Imagination Is The Only Weapon In The War Against Reality."
> http://xoomer.alice.it/infinity77/
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>
>
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