User:Quozl

Pippy Design Idea 2011-03-10

Purpose

increase code sharing,
increase relevance to Python users,
increase portability of code written.

Data

A running Pippy instance will contain the following data:

zero or more python zip bundles,
each python zip bundle will include a setup.py capable of creating the zip bundle output,
unless the user has asked to edited the setup.py, it will not be shown, instead a default will be used, maintained by Pippy,

Input

Pippy may read from:

a saved instance of Pippy, in the journal,
a zip bundle in the journal,
example zip bundles included with Pippy,

Output

Pippy may write to:

a saved instance of Pippy, in the journal,
a zip bundle in the journal.

Display

Display will contain:

toolbar,
a series of tabs, one for each bundle, an add bundle button, and an open example bundle button,
within each bundle, a series of tabs, one for __doc__ that is not editable, one for each source file that is editable, and an add file button,
within each file, a syntax highlighting text edit widget.

Process

When run is pressed, display will contain:

toolbar,
stdout stdin vte,
a stop button.

Changes

Partial list of changes to bring Pippy existing source to a state consistent with the design above:

remove the examples widget from the main screen, provide it only as an "open an example bundle" function,
remove the output window from the main screen, provide it only when a program is run, and only if the program generates stdout or reads from stdin,
enlarge the program text entry widget to be nearly full screen,
encapsulate the program text entry widget in tabs for files in a zip bundle,
encapsulate the bundle in tabs for zip bundles loaded into pippy instance,
on standard sugar save, save all zip bundles and files in a sugar journal entry,
provide an export zip bundle button that creates a sugar journal entry of type zip bundle, for sharing,
provide a way to import zip bundles from journal into the current pippy instance, using the object chooser,
on execution of a bundle, allow access to all other currently loaded bundles via import, and access to system bundles via import,

Discussion Log

<Quozl> pippy screen might contain a series of zip bundles.  each bundle might contain multiple files, including the setup.py perhaps hidden.  learner might load some bundles into pippy, then write a program as a new bundle that imports the other bundles.
<Quozl> i think the program output window might be separate to the main view ... something that pops up when "run" is pressed.
<Quozl> i think the series of examples takes up space unnecessarily.
<m_anish> Quozl yep, and an activity for a kid could be to use the existing examples in a bundle to write more complex code
<Quozl> yes.
<m_anish> Quozl agree
<Quozl> each of the samples would be a bundle.