better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

**Steve Holden** · Jun 9 '06, 07:45 AM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

warpcat wrote:[color=blue]
> I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
> to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
> using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
> with this functionality:
>
> In Maya's mel script editor window, it's split into two sections.
> Bottom window you can enter commands (where your script lives), top
> window gives results. The thing I'm really used to is highlighting X#
> of lines in the bottom window (little snippits from my script), and
> executing that selection, with instant feedback of the results on top.
> This really speeds my workflow.
> It seems completely missing (so far) in Python's IDE. I have to copy
> and paste from a script to the ide window to execute and see the
> results, or I have to make a bunch of "buffer scripts" with just the
> code snippetsI want to test in. Seems *really* clunky.
>
> Does anyone know of a scripting enviroment for Python that mimics what
> Maya's script editor has? Much appreciated.
>[/color]
I don't know of anything that exhibits the exact behaviour you describe,
but then again you might like to consider that i found your request very
odd. I'm sure that way of testing code seems entirely natural to you,
but I can honestly say that in almost ten years using Python it's not
something I have ever wished for.

You might also wish to reconsider your approach to the Python community.
"PythonWin sucks" isn't my idea of how to win friends and influence
people in a first posting to a usenet newsgroup. By and large we are a
friendly bunch here, but you don't want to start off on the wrong foot :-)

Take a look at DrPython (http://drpython.sourceforge.net/) - you might
be able to script it to do what you want, and anyway it's more of a
lightweight interface than PythonWin so you might find it less intrusive.

[Irrelevant ramble: Man, SoureceForge really know how to screw a web
site up. I'm guessing they think that the changes of the last year are
"improvemen ts". Boy are they wrong. What a mess!]

regards
Steve
--
Steve Holden +44 150 684 7255 +1 800 494 3119
Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com
Love me, love my blog http://holdenweb.blogspot.com
Recent Ramblings http://del.icio.us/steve.holden

**Kay Schluehr** · Jun 9 '06, 09:45 AM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

warpcat wrote:[color=blue]
> I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
> to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE.[/color]

IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments

http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments

**Slawomir Nowaczyk** · Jun 9 '06, 01:35 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:40:48 -0700
warpcat <warpcat@sbcglo bal.net> wrote:

#> I'm using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better,
#> mainly with this functionality:

*Assuming* I understood your description correctly, python-mode in
Emacs does what you want. Emacs is hardly a substitute for PythonWin,
though: the learning curve is quite steep.

--
Best wishes,
Slawomir Nowaczyk
( Slawomir.Nowacz yk@cs.lth.se )

If you're constantly looking behind you, you may miss the frontal attack.

**warpcat** · Jun 14 '06, 07:35 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

I'm not sure where you got "pythonwin sucks" from my text (none of
those words are there). Saying one aspect of a piece of software is
clunky to "me" (if that's what you're refering too?) or saying the
whole software "sucks" are pretty different IMO. All I stated is that
it's very different from how I'm used to working. I didn't mean any
disrespect, but I do appreciate your info!

Steve Holden wrote:
[color=blue]
> You might also wish to reconsider your approach to the Python community.
> "PythonWin sucks" isn't my idea of how to win friends and influence
> people in a first posting to a usenet newsgroup. By and large we are a
> friendly bunch here, but you don't want to start off on the wrong foot :-)
>
> regards
> Steve
> --
> Steve Holden +44 150 684 7255 +1 800 494 3119
> Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com
> Love me, love my blog http://holdenweb.blogspot.com
> Recent Ramblings http://del.icio.us/steve.holden[/color]

**Steve Holden** · Jun 14 '06, 08:15 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

warpcat wrote:[color=blue]
> I'm not sure where you got "pythonwin sucks" from my text (none of
> those words are there). Saying one aspect of a piece of software is
> clunky to "me" (if that's what you're refering too?) or saying the
> whole software "sucks" are pretty different IMO. All I stated is that
> it's very different from how I'm used to working. I didn't mean any
> disrespect, but I do appreciate your info!
>[/color]
No offence taken - I was clearly reading too much into your words.

regards
Steve
--
Steve Holden +44 150 684 7255 +1 800 494 3119
Holden Web LLC/Ltd http://www.holdenweb.com
Love me, love my blog http://holdenweb.blogspot.com
Recent Ramblings http://del.icio.us/steve.holden

**Scott David Daniels** · Jun 14 '06, 09:55 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

warpcat wrote:[color=blue]
> I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
> to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
> using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
> with this functionality:[/color]

I'm not certain, but you could take a look at Komodo from ActiveState.
I do have an interactive window, edit window(s), and an output window.
You can get a free trial from them, as I remember.

--Scott David Daniels
scott.daniels@a cm.org

**Ten** · Jun 22 '06, 05:15 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

On Friday 09 June 2006 00:40, warpcat wrote:[color=blue]
> I've been scripting in Maya, via mel for years now. Recently learning
> to Python, love it. Thing that's driving me nuts it the IDE. I'm
> using PythonWin right now and trying to find something better, mainly
> with this functionality:
>
> In Maya's mel script editor window, it's split into two sections.
> Bottom window you can enter commands (where your script lives), top
> window gives results. The thing I'm really used to is highlighting X#
> of lines in the bottom window (little snippits from my script), and
> executing that selection, with instant feedback of the results on top.
> This really speeds my workflow.
> It seems completely missing (so far) in Python's IDE. I have to copy
> and paste from a script to the ide window to execute and see the
> results, or I have to make a bunch of "buffer scripts" with just the
> code snippetsI want to test in. Seems *really* clunky.
>
> Does anyone know of a scripting enviroment for Python that mimics what
> Maya's script editor has? Much appreciated.[/color]

It may not be much of an answer as many people don't want to learn emacs (or
vi for that matter), but emacs does this, specifically the separate buffers
and the ability to highlight and execute parts of your code to test it.

If you get into emacs, it's worth the time invested. The learning curve's
alleged to be steep, but it isn't that bad, I use it and I'm as dumb as a
stump. It's a very good IDE for everyday use. :-)

Good luck,

Ten

--
There are 10 types of people in this world,
those who understand binary, and those who don't.

**Christian Convey** · Jun 22 '06, 05:35 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

Ten wrote:[color=blue]
> If you get into emacs, it's worth the time invested. The learning curve's
> alleged to be steep, but it isn't that bad, I use it and I'm as dumb as a
> stump. It's a very good IDE for everyday use. :-)[/color]

Not to get into the classic emacs/vi/etc. argument, but from my
experience emacs has never been a good learning investment.

For an editor (on Linux) I just use Kate or Gedit, which have syntax
highlighting. For debugging, I use the print statement, because I
haven't found an interactive debugger that I like.

I did try Eclipse's "PyDev" module. It was OK, but I found Eclipse to
have so much screen clutter and so-so responsiveness, so I decided to
not keep on using it.

KDevelop now has support for Python coding, but no Python debugger yet.
It also doesn't support tab completions for Python (that I'm aware of).

So for now, I've found just a plain old text editor, plus print
statements, to be the right choice for me.

--
Christian Convey
Computer Scientist,
Naval Undersea Warfare Centers
Newport, RI
(401) 832-6824
conveycj@npt.nu wc.navy.mil

**Russell Warren** · Jun 22 '06, 09:15 PM

Re: better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

Check out the Wing IDE - www.wingware.com .

As part of it's general greatness it has a "debug probe" which lets you
execute code snippets on active data in mid-debug execution.

It doesn't have precisely what you are after... you can't (yet)
highlight code segments and say "run this, please", but I think it
might almost have what you want for general workflow improvement.

The main drawback is that it is a commercial product, albeit "cheap".
The extra drawback is that the debug probe feature requires the
professional version which is "less cheap", but still < $200. Well
worth it for professional development IMO.

They have a great demo policy... you should check it out. I tried
several different IDEs (I've become accustomed to using IDEs over
supe'd up text editors) and Wing was/is my favorite.

better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

better Python IDE? Mimics Maya's script editor?

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