Re: [Pythonmac-SIG] New Page, first proposal

[Charles Hartman]

Thanks Chris. What's below is not a complete response, just a couple of specific, interim notes while I study up on the rest. Charles   On Feb 8, 2006, at 1:06 PM, Christopher Barker wrote: also I hope a prominent one slapped onto the top of the MacPython site.) Do you mean Jack Jansen's site? Yes. I'm thinking of what shows up at the top of likely Google searches; I think that's pythonmac.org and "MacPython Website." For a page title that covers the ground broadly and accurately, I propose Python on the Mac Looks good, Does "Mac" now mean OS-X unambiguously? That's a good question. (And what *is* the situation for OS9ers who want Python?) For me, the list would be (1) get Bob's framework (2) pick and install an IDE Given the state of IDEs and their installers, don't start there. Start with a the terminal and a text editor. I have reservations about this. Particularly if, as you say and as I agree, the target audience is newcomers to Python (assumed not to be newcomers to the Mac), then a way to avoid starting with the Terminal is essential -- in fact, I'd say it's a primary motive in doing this project at all. Hence my support of:   Somebody who comes idly to the idea of programming in Python, and finds the pythonmac page, will be happy if the result is an afternoon's work that ends in a "hello world," possibly in a window.  Using my own arbitrary preferences, that would entail: 1. downloading & installing Bob's framework 2. downloading & installing TigerPython24Fix 3. adding /usr/local/bin to the PATH We really should build an installer that does the three of these at once (with the PATH editing optional). I have no idea how to do that, though. But it's true that this is a reasonable alternative beginning path: I do think a little "getting started" tutorial with a editor and the command line is a good idea, however. enough that they can read one of the intro books and know what to do. Here's a similar crux: Bill Janssen wrote: Who wants to open windows?  Why is a GUI automatically necessary? One answer: exactly the people conceived as the likely entry-level audience for this page. If you're a Mac user, confronted with a programming language/environment, one of the first things you'll want to know is how to make a little windowing app (whether you know that's what it's called or not).

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