Mark and Chris, thanks for your interest. Here's some in-depth info about my project.
I've designed a desktop applet that displays custom artwork and interface elements, and incorporates a modified calendar control from the wxPython demo as a basis for its calendar grid implementation. Basically this applet is intended to mimic to some degree an "ink-on-paper" wall calendar of the variety that usually uses themed graphics as decorations. The applet is initially to be used to display artwork produced by members of an artists' web community I frequent, conceptart.org, but can be adapted to display any graphics that can be "modulized" with image2py. The interface artwork is also so modulized, so that can also be easily customized. The applet is designed to adjust itself to any size and aspect ratio of art, within reasonable limits (even unreasonable if the artwork is properly modified for inclusion), with partially-fixed-size regions dedicated to the UI. Currently, to avoid the need for complex graphics code for resampling and scaling the artwork, the displayed artwork is fixed in scale, with no allowance for dynamic adaptation to monitor size. Artwork modules for different screen resolutions are the alternate solution, a bit inelegant in terms of coding but better for proper display of the art, which is the driving purpose for the calendar applet. The applet windows cannot be dynamically resized, for much the same reason. There is functionality for marking and adding short text notes to selected dates on the calendar control, which is accessed on user demand. The applet is designed to be platform non-specific, using borderless or simple-border frames and avoiding as much as possible platform dependencies in terms of interface controls, which are very rudimentary. In its current implementation, there are no user menus, and only three main interface buttons -- Close, Minimize, and Open Calendar Grid. A TaskBarIcon provides user control as well, for Close, Minimize and Restore commands. The calendar control itself employs the date navigation functions from the wxPython demo (calendar window version), with modified date marking code, and new code to permit input, recording and reading w/output of the date-selective text notes. Two pickled text files with custom (though rather simple) formatting rules are used for persistent data: the calendar text notes and the closing position of the applet. I've only been using Python since the first of this month, so I've depended heavily on adaptation of existing modules when feasible, drawing mainly from the wxPython GUI library. Originality is in the interface design and its visual character, in the scripting to maintain the frames hierarchy the visual design requires, and in the date marking functions added to (or modified from) the calendar control. Distribution of the applet will be international and multi-platform, reflecting the wide member base of conceptart.org. An informal survey has already identified Win98, WinXP (home and Pro), Mac OSX 10.3.9 and above, and Debian Linux as platforms in use by the members, so I need some assistance in prepping distribution packages that do not require separate installations of Python 2.4 and wxPython 2.6 Unicode (though the Win98 version will likely be wxPython ANSI). So far I've done successful test builds for the WinXP and Win98 platforms using py2exe. Since I am primarily a CG artist, I don't maintain multi-platform systems for my programming efforts (which in the past have included TcL-based plugins and RealBasic standalones for Mac OS 9.x, and UnrealScript for game-specific coding on Windows), so instead I'm seeking the assistance of interested Python community members. I chose Python as the implementing code base because my research indicated it is very flexible, has a respectable documentation database (essential for a novice such as I), and is very similar in syntax and abstract structure to the other scripting languages I've used. The applet is to be distributed free of charge, as a vehicle for promoting contributing artists from conceptart.org. Contributors to the packaging efforts will of course be credited if so desired. My current functionality status is unreleased beta; my plans are to release the beta for testing by the end of April. Beta testers will be chosen primarily from the conceptart.org membership, the initial target audience for the applet, but I would of course welcome feedback from the Python community as well. I hope that answers most questions. I can provide URLs to forum threads on conceptart.org that have some details about the look of the beta if that is of further interest. chip ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Barker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "chip nyman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 7:09 PM Subject: Re: [Pythonmac-SIG] multi-platform Python distributions question > chip nyman wrote: >> I have a small non-commercial calendar applet featuring heavy use of >> wxPython that I've written on WinXP but will eventually need to be >> distributed to a number of platforms, including current Macs. Are >> there any subscribers to this list who'd consider helping me prep a >> py2app version for Mac OSX 10.3.9 and above? > > Tell us more about the app -- something to get us interested! > > > Also, are there other >> pythonMac lists or similar resources I should investigate that might >> provide useful info for such an undertaking? Thanks. > > I'd try the wxpython-users list too. > > -Chris > > > -- > Christopher Barker, Ph.D. > Oceanographer > NOAA/OR&R/HAZMAT (206) > 526-6959 voice > 7600 Sand Point Way NE (206) 526-6329 fax > Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317 main reception > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ Pythonmac-SIG maillist - Pythonmac-SIG@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/pythonmac-sig
