This is getting OT, but I'd kind of like to see it get archived somewhere...
João Luís Silva wrote: > I'm trying to explore new options, and learn new skills. My favorite > programming languages are C/C++ and Python. I use Python for small > scripts and applications, and C/C++ for everything else. I've started a > smallish/medium size open source app in python+pygtk+matplotlib+numpy > (laserfoam.sf.net) but I think a large application might be more > maintainable in C++. I think this is not true AT ALL -- C++ is a big 'ol mess and far too complicated, and not very flexible, no matter how hard it tries. > Also, I think C++ is easier to "sell" to the powers > that be. That can be quite true, depending on who the powers that be are. However, I like a quote from the wxPython list: "The only difference that my users see between an app written in Python and C++ is that the Python one has more features...and fewer bugs." > I may write the GUI in > python+wxPython, and everything else in C++, I wouldn't write "everything else" in C++ -- I'd only write what you really need to write in C++ - which means only computational code that isn't fast enough with numpy, or device drivers or something like that. > but I was trying to drive the app from C++. That can be done, but most people do it the other way around, it's easier to drive C++ from python than python from C++. I did get a note on the numpy list from someone driving MPL from C++ for some simple test code, but I don't think it's a robust solution -- I've just forwarded that to you. > The need for python only remains due to its superior > plotting tools. the "need" maybe, but python has many, many, advantages that have nothing to do with plotting (or other libs, though the available libs are a big plus). Really, you'll be writing 1/5 to 1/10 as much code -- that's a BIG savings! Also, you get built-in scripting -- and I think virtually every app should be scriptable. > Also, I'm trying to keep things simple, so that they > just work, on both Linux and Windows. If you keep your extensions pretty standard C++, that's pretty easy, and python + wxPython is very portable. > I guess I have to think this over a bit more. Any further comments or > sugestions would be appreciated. Here's the key questions: 1) do you need C/C++ at all? maybe not! 2) If so, how much of the functionality of your app really needs to be written in C++? Multi-language development is kind of a pain -- SWIG, Pyrex, ctypes, Boost++, etc help a lot, but it's still a lot of work at the interface, so it only makes sense if you keep that interface small. If there isn't much C++, it's a no-brainer. 3) it seems most projects that do python+C++ development wish they'd done more in Python, not less: http://www.python.org/about/success/wingide/ Why do you think that virtually no one writes web apps in C++? -Chris -- Christopher Barker, Ph.D. Oceanographer Emergency Response Division NOAA/NOS/OR&R (206) 526-6959 voice 7600 Sand Point Way NE (206) 526-6329 fax Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317 main reception [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2008. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-users mailing list Matplotlib-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-users
