Python on CF/SD

[shula]

reminder:
getting used to a gui toolkit is just a matter of time.

at least for me, the main problem with QT is the burden it poses on the Z resources.
i AM writing code with QT on Z.

there are readable source codes in the pyqt examples dir.
i took them and re-used them in my apps.

maybe i'm too VB minded

[kopsis]

at least for me, the main problem with QT is the burden it poses on the Z resources.

Would you please elaborate on that point? I'd like to better understand your concerns. Do you consider this a Qt issue in general or is it just a PyQt thing? I haven't really noticed any problems with Qt resource usage in general, but then I develop on a C760 so I may not notice issues that would impact SL-5500 users.

[shula]

i got c860.

ok  , i'm probably just whining
last ROM i tested it,  it took more than a minute to load (which ROM was it??? sharp's original maybe..) and then the resource meter shows 60-70% usage (on a kust-restarted z).

i'm now on cacko 1.21.
things look nice. it runs pretty good, actually.

sorry for misinformation.
i'll stick to pyQT then. it works.

i'm writing a module to browse and edit sqlite tables,
something like "portabase", but with SQL access, excel-like GUI, and of course python access.

i already built an equivalent in VB that runs on my windows machine.
(tell me if you want the source/binary, both the VB and the python project (which is still alpha quality))

[slapout]

I tried to get a development environment setup about a year ago when I first got my Zaurus. But I couldn't get it to work. It may have been because I was using RedHat 9 ( and several things had to be done differently in RH9). It may also have been because I had the wrong verison of Qtopia.

But now Python and PyQt have got me exicted about developing for the Z again!

Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning Qtopia?

[shula]

i dont understand exactly.

i downloaded pyqt,
and in the package there are examples.
i just copy-paste and learn from the examples source-code.

and there's a reference/manual):
since pyqt is tightly based on the C++ code, you can (and should) read the QT object reference, and deduce what should be the python code like.

the only manual provided with pyqt is which C++ API is implemented in pyqt and which isnt yet.

[kopsis]

Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning Qtopia?

That's a good question but rather than leaving the answer burried in this topic, I created a new topic for the answer. If anyone else has good suggestions for tutorial/references/examples, lets put them there so they'll be easier for folks to find.

[nilch]

kokpsis - good work there.

I will definitely give your python package a try on my C750.

I totally agree with all python enthusiasts who say that developing apps for the Zaurus with Python/PyQT is a breeze.

Its a great experience - very rapid application development timeframe and also absolutely native QT apps look and feel. Its not like what a JAVA apps on the zaurus looks like - which is not at all native QT look and feel in the way the app behaves.

I have myself developed 3 apps for the Zaurus previously na dalso deistributed those apps on Handango for the Zaurus.

But now due to time contraints I havent been able to keep up with the develeopment (particularly modifying my apps to the now larger VGA screen - I had developed before the C7xxx series  or SL6000 had been launched).

I do intend to go back to my develeopment again if I get some free time - particularly revive the WeatheronZ application for a live feed of the Weather forecast for those connected to the internet.

Kopsis, is there any way to take out some packages and make the whole thing a bit more leaner and meaner, event though I realise its all sitting on the SD or CF and thus doest take up precious internal memory.

All the same I will give this a try on my C750 (I never got the chance to put Python and PyQT on that apart from my older 5000D), so here we go....

[kopsis]

Kopsis, is there any way to take out some packages and make the whole thing a bit more leaner and meaner ...

There's not much in there that I want to get rid of. My goal was to provide a complete Zaurus Python distribution in a single "package". The Python on ARM site has already done a great job of putting together a modularized Python for those who can get by with just a subset of modules. So rather than duplicate their effort, I put together a one-size-fits-all package for folks who need enough modules that they might as well just have everything

I've thought about deleting all the .py files and just leaving the pre-compiled (.pyc) versions but I don't know enough about Python to know if that will break anything so I'll have to do some testing. Ultimately, I'm going to try to do a cramfs (or squashfs) version. The down side of that is that it will be harder for folks to customize and it won't work as well off CF cards, but it will be quite a bit smaller for those folks tight on SD space.

Work has been a little busy lately, but hopefully I'll find some time to tinker with this stuff during my two week vacation at the end of the month

[fpp]

There's not much in there that I want to get rid of. My goal was to provide a complete Zaurus Python distribution in a single "package". The Python on ARM site has already done a great job of putting together a modularized Python for those who can get by with just a subset of modules. So rather than duplicate their effort, I put together a one-size-fits-all package for folks who need enough modules that they might as well just have everything

...and also, one might add, quite a bit easier to install than the arm-python packages for those with stock Sharp or Cacko ROMs !

I've thought about deleting all the .py files and just leaving the pre-compiled (.pyc) versions but I don't know enough about Python to know if that will break anything so I'll have to do some testing. Ultimately, I'm going to try to do a cramfs (or squashfs) version. The down side of that is that it will be harder for folks to customize and it won't work as well off CF cards, but it will be quite a bit smaller for those folks tight on SD space.

I'm not sure the space gained by doing without the standard library source files would be worth it. One of the niceties I like in Python is being able to load on of those in the editor now and then, to see how things work, read the comments, and/or find out how to inherit/extend !

Work has been a little busy lately, but hopefully I'll find some time to tinker with this stuff during my two week vacation at the end of the month

Again, thanks for all this much appreciated stuff !
fp

[clofland]

Just wanted to drop a quick THANK YOU to Kopsis!

I had been sticking to console applications due to the inability to write anything in GUI with Python that I could run reliably on my Windows machine and on my Zaurus (and any other Linux box).

This PyQT works GREAT! I've been using my free time around the Holiday to add some much desired GUI elements to my python apps.

They run beautifully on both desktop and Z.

Thanks a million! It is SO great, also, to not have to keep digging up missing py files or working around missing compiled functions on the Z.

Let me know if you will need any help to keep this up to date. Having Sqlite 3 has been wonderful. Hoping to see Python 2.4 in the future too.