1996-03-18 09:38:52 -04:00
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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Macintosh Python crash course</TITLE></HEAD>
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<BODY>
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<H1><IMG SRC="html.icons/python.gif">Macintosh Python crash course</H1>
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<HR>
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This set of documents provides an introduction to various aspects of
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Python programming on the Mac. It is assumed that the reader is
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already familiar with Python and, to some extent, with MacOS Toolbox
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programming. Other readers may find something interesting here too,
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your mileage may vary. <p>
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1996-04-10 11:52:59 -03:00
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There is a companion document <a href="using.html">Using Python on the Mac</a>
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which you should read before starting here: it explains the basics of using
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python on the Macintosh. <p>
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1996-03-18 09:38:52 -04:00
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Another set of Macintosh-savvy examples, more aimed at beginners, is
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maintained by Joseph Strout, at <A
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HREF="http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/~jstrout/python/">
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http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/~jstrout/python/</A>.
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<P>
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The document was actually written while I was working on a "real"
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project: creating a single-button application that will allow my
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girlfriend to read her mail (which actually pass thry <EM>my</EM>
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mailbox, so I get to read it too, but don't tell her:-) without her
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having to worry about internet connections, unix commands, etc. The
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application, when finished, will connect to the net using InterSLIP,
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start a (pseudo-)POP server on unix using rsh and use AppleScript to
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tell Eudora to connect to that server and retrieve messages. <p>
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<CITE>
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If you want to try the examples here you will have to download some
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fixes to the 1.3 distribution to your Macintosh. You need an updated
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version of <A HREF="update-to-1.3/FrameWork.py">FrameWork.py</A> (to
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go in <CODE>Lib:mac</CODE> and updated <A
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HREF="update-to-1.3/into-PlugIns.hqx">project templates</A> to go into
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the <CODE>PlugIns</CODE> folder for PPC users.
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Users of 1.3.1 or later distributions don't need these fixes.<P>
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</CITE>
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If you are reading this document on the web and would prefer to read
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it offline you can transfer the whole stuff (as a BinHexed StuffIt
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archive) from <A HREF="complete.hqx"> here</A>. This archive includes
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the fixes mentioned in the previous paragraph. <p>
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<H2>Table of contents</H2>
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<UL>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="example1.html">Using python to create Macintosh applications,
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part one</A> explains how to create a simple modal-dialog application
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in Python. It also takes a glance at using the toolbox modules Res and
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Dlg, and EasyDialogs for simple question-dialogs.
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<LI>
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<A HREF="example2.html">Using python to create Macintosh applications,
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part two</A> turns the previous example program into a more complete
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mac application, using a modeless dialog, menus, etc. It also explains
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how to create applets, standalone applications written in Python.
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<LI>
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In the Python distribution two more examples are included without
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explanation. <I>PICTbrowse</I> is an application that locates PICT
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resources and displays them, it demonstrates some quickdraw and the
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resource and list namagers. <I>Imgbrowse</I> displays image files in
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many different formats (gif, tiff, pbm, etc). It shows how to use the
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img modules on the mac.
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<LI>
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<A HREF="plugins.html">Creating a C extension module on the Macintosh</A>
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is meant for the hardcore programmer, and shows how to create an
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extension module in C. It also handles using Modulator to create the
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boilerplate for your module, and creating dynamically-loadable modules
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on PowerPC Macs.
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<LI>
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<A HREF="applescript.html">Using Open Scripting Architecture from Python</A> explains
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how to create a Python module interfacing to a scriptable application,
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and how to use that module in your python program.
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</UL>
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At some point in the (possibly distant) future, I will add chapters on
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how to use bgen to create modules completely automatic and how to make
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your Python program scriptable, but that will have to wait. <p>
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<HR>
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Please let me know if you miss critical information in this
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document. I am quite sure that I will never find the time to turn it
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into a complete MacPython programmers guide (which would probably be a
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400-page book instead of 5 lousy html-files), but it should contain
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at least the information that is neither in the standard Python
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documentation nor in Inside Mac or other Mac programmers
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documentation. <p>
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<HR>
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<A HREF="http://www.cwi.nl/~jack">Jack Jansen</A>,
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1996-04-10 11:52:59 -03:00
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<A HREF="mailto:jack@cwi.nl">jack@cwi.nl</A>, 7-Apr-1996.
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