Monday, February 17, 2003

Paint Shop Pro 8 Public Beta Paint Shop Pro 8 for Windows uses Python as its scripting engine. Below is an excerpt from the readme file. PSP 8 has a full blown scripting engine, based on the Python programming language. Though you can use Python to write scripts from scratch, in general there is no need to do so. PSP includes a script recorder, and virtually everything in the application can be recorded. Scripting functionality is primarily accessed either through the scripting toolbar or through the Script submenu of the file menu. From there you can record, pause recording, save recordings, and play, edit or cancel scripts. Bravo Jasc Software! The readme goes on to give more details about editing Python scripts in case you want to get more advanced as well as the security implications of using scripts from untrusted sources. 9:03:53 PM    comment []

A Conversion with Guido van Rossum The full set of interviews done with Guido back in July are now available. In Part I: The Making of Python, van Rossum describes Python's history, major influences, and design goals. In Part II: Python's Design Goals, van Rossum talks about Python's original design goals—how he originally intended Python to "bridge the gap between the shell and C," and how it eventually became used on large-scale applications. In Part III: Programming at Python Speed, van Rossum discusses the source of Python's famed programmer productivity and the joys of exploring new territory with code. In Part IV: Contracts in Python, van Rossum discusses the nature of contracts in a runtime typed programming language such as Python. In Part V: Strong versus Weak Typing, van Rossum discusses the robustness of systems built with strongly and weakly typed languages, the value of testing, and whether he'd fly on an all-Python plane. In Part VI: Designing with the Python Community, van Rossum discusses the importance of "pythonic" API design, the usefulness of intuiting performance, the value of experience and community feedback in design decisions, and the process of deciding how to evolve Python's standard library. 9:12:29 AM    comment []