Easiest way to port Python program to PDA

[Jeffrey Barish]

I have been developing a Python program with two intercommunicating
(using sockets) parts, one of which runs on a desktop and the other on
a PDA.  For ease of development, I developed them both on a desktop. 
Now that I have them working on the desktop, I need to move the part
destined for a PDA to a PDA.  I had originally planned to use a Sharp
Zaurus because it runs Linux (the OS of my desktop system) and I had
found a Python port that was supposed to be available for that platform
(Riverbank Computing).  Unfortunately, Riverbank Computing just
discontinued their port.  They refer interested parties to another port
(http://www.vanille.de/projects/python.spy), but that site has no code
to download and does not respond to queries.  Accordingly, I have to
conclude that there is no Python port available for the Zaurus so I am
back to square 1.

My question in short: does anyone have suggestions for the easiest way
to move the Python program to a PDA.  The program uses a few modules
from the standard distribution (2.3): socket, thread, time, os, and
Tkinter.  I expected to rewrite the GUI, but I am hoping to rewrite the
rest of the program as little as possible.

I have discovered a python for StrongARM Pocket PCs.  There is also a
python port for PalmOS, but that project appears to be dormant.  I have
also discovered handhelds.org, which explains how to run linux on iPAQ,
but it isn't clear to me that it is possible to run python on the
resulting linux installation.  Does anyone have comments on the Palm vs
Pocket PC choice?  How difficult will it be to program the GUI on the
PDA?  I presume that I am going to have to do that using a language
other than python, so I wonder about integrating it with the python
code.  If I have to program the GUI in another language, should I bite
the bullet and rewrite the entire program in that language?  The program
is under 300 lines, it wouldn't be that big a deal.

 

[Günter Jantzen]

I have been developing a Python program with two intercommunicating
(using sockets) parts, one of which runs on a desktop and the other on
a PDA. For ease of development, I developed them both on a desktop.
Now that I have them working on the desktop, I need to move the part
destined for a PDA to a PDA. I had originally planned to use a Sharp
Zaurus because it runs Linux (the OS of my desktop system) and I had
found a Python port that was supposed to be available for that platform
(Riverbank Computing). Unfortunately, Riverbank Computing just
discontinued their port. They refer interested parties to another port
(http://www.vanille.de/projects/python.spy), but that site has no code
to download and does not respond to queries. Accordingly, I have to
conclude that there is no Python port available for the Zaurus so I am
back to square 1.

Maybe openzaurus could be what you are searching

http://www.openzaurus.org/official/stable/feed/

 

[Günter Jantzen]

And surely you find OpenEmbedded on the OpenZaurus site - with an actual
Metadata for Python
http://openembedded.bkbits.net:8080/packages/src/python?nav=index.html|src/.

(I just followed the links - can't give further explanations now)

 

[Fred Pacquier]

I have been developing a Python program with two intercommunicating
(using sockets) parts, one of which runs on a desktop and the other on
a PDA.  For ease of development, I developed them both on a desktop. 
Now that I have them working on the desktop, I need to move the part
destined for a PDA to a PDA.  I had originally planned to use a Sharp
Zaurus because it runs Linux (the OS of my desktop system) and I had
found a Python port that was supposed to be available for that platform
(Riverbank Computing).  Unfortunately, Riverbank Computing just
discontinued their port.

Damn, that's bad news ! Even worse, they were AFAIK the only ones
providing PyQT for the Zaurus, and that's gone too. I wonder what led
them to this (maybe someone left ?). It's very recent too, as I remember
checking their site not long ago.

Anyway, if you're interested, I do have their 2.3.3 package for the
Zaurus at home (and maybe PyQT), so just ask. It may be orphaned just now
but it works quite well (I chose my PDA specifically so that it runs
python too ;-).

  They refer interested parties to another port
(http://www.vanille.de/projects/python.spy), but that site has no code
to download and does not respond to queries.  

You didn't look close enough ;-)
Admittedly it's easy to miss, but the downloads are there all right :
under the "links" section at the bottom of the page there are two
"feeds" depending on you gcc (glibc) version, they lead to all the
relevant "ipk" files.

As for queries, the author is active as MickeyL on the Zaurus User Group
forums (http://www.zaurususergroup.com/), it may be easier to reach him
there.

Accordingly, I have to
conclude that there is no Python port available for the Zaurus so I am
back to square 1.

Fortunately for us, that conclusion is wrong ;-)

 

[Ron Stephens]

Wow, that is too bad, and I am surprised. I love my Zaurus and I run
Python scripts on it all the time using thier port.

I do have copies of 2.2.3-1.0 of therr main python port, and also a
copy of their python-webtools module (urllib, httplib, etc) and they
can be found at http://www.awaretek.com/pythonforzaurus.html

I think I may have other of their Python library module ports actually
on my Z, I'll check and if so I'll make them available on the same web
page.

Ron Stephens

 

[Nemesis]

Mentre io pensavo ad una intro simpatica "Jeffrey Barish" scriveva:

have discovered a python for StrongARM Pocket PCs.  There is also a
python port for PalmOS, but that project appears to be dormant.  I have
also discovered handhelds.org, which explains how to run linux on iPAQ,
but it isn't clear to me that it is possible to run python on the
resulting linux installation.

Hmmm I remember that on handelds.org there is the link to the "Familiar"
distro, it should come with python+pygtk.