Why Python

[Tony Steward]

Hello All,
I am looking for a programming language to use to write a database type
application to run on windows machines. Is python for me or pls suggest what
is.

Is there a page that explains in simple terms what Python can do on windows?
Is there an IDE?
Is the windows api pre wrapped?

Thanks
Tony

 

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

Hello All,
I am looking for a programming language to use to write a database type
application to run on windows machines. Is python for me or pls suggest what
is.

Python is excellent for database work.

Is there a page that explains in simple terms what Python can do on windows?

No single page, but with the win32 extensions, Python can access
Windows-specific stuff like COM and the win32 API just fine.

Is there an IDE?

There are, but if you're into thin GUI clients like VB6, there is no
direct equivalent. It's a lot more common to create GUIs from code
without form designers under Python.

Is the windows api pre wrapped?

Sure. Part of the win32 extensions.
http://starship.python.net/crew/mhammond/

Alternatively, you can use the Python distribution from ActiveState
which contains win32all already, plus some additional goodies like a
package management system and Python docs in Windows Help format.

-- Gerhard

 

[Gilles Lenfant]

Hello All,
I am looking for a programming language to use to write a database type
application to run on windows machines. Is python for me or pls suggest what
is.

Search (google) for mxODBC. it's a commercial package (free for personal
use) that enables to play with any database that provides an ODBC driver
(Oracle, MySQL, MS Access, MS SQL*Server, Sybase...)

Is there a page that explains in simple terms what Python can do on windows?
Is there an IDE?

Many 3rd party IDEs are available, free and commercial ones.
The standard Python distro comes with IDLE.

Is the windows api pre wrapped?

Not in the standard distro, but you can add win32all (google again) that
wraps most of the win32 native API. Plus a nice IDE.
If you don't want mxODBC, win32all comes with an ODBC module. But it's not
as rich as mxODBC.

Thanks

Welcome

--Gilles

 

[Randall Smith]

Hello All,
I am looking for a programming language to use to write a database type
application to run on windows machines. Is python for me or pls suggest what
is.

Is there a page that explains in simple terms what Python can do on windows?
Is there an IDE?
Is the windows api pre wrapped?

Thanks
Tony

Download the version for ActiveState. It has lots of Windows goodies.

Randall

 

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

LOL. Tell our VB guys who have to bundle VB6 runtimes, MDAC, and
other assorted Activex controls with their apps how thin VB6 clients
are.

I was mixing terms up. I was really meaning 'fat client' here (full
win32 GUI/database access, etc.) in contrast to a 'thin client'
(normally a browser-based interface with most processing happening on
the backend web-/database server)

If you want a truly thin windows client, use Delphi or C++
Builder.

Executable/runtime size is pretty much irrelevant under most
circumstances (read: intranets with scripted installs).

-- Gerhard