xturtle.py, extended turtle graphics a new Tkinter based turtle graphics module for Python
I just have released xturtle.py (v.0.91). It can be found at: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470 with RequestID 1513695 (and 1513699 for the docs) and also here http://ada.rg16.asn-wien.ac.at/~python/xturtle with some supplementary information. xturtle was first announced at the edu-sig and is reported to work properly on all major platforms (Mac, Linux and Windows) Now I was suggested to discuss it on this list. So I'll try. For now I'll give only two indroductory statements and wait for a response, hoping that a fruitful discussion will evolve. (I) The module xturtle.py is an extended reeimplementation of turtle.py, retains its merits and is backward compatible to turtle.py. Enhancements over turtle.py are: # Better animation of the turtle movements, especially of turning the turtle. So the turtles can more easily be used as a visual feedback instrument by the (beginning) programmer. # Different turtle shapes, gif-images as turtle shapes, user defined and user controllable turtle shapes, among them compound (multicolored) shapes. # Fine control over turtle movement and screen updates via delay(), and enhanced tracer() and speed(), update() methods. # Aliases for the most commonly used commands, like fd for forward etc., following the early Logo traditions. This reduces the boring work of typing long sequences of commands, which often occur in a natural way when kids try to program fancy pictures on their first encounter with turtle graphcis (still not knowing nothing about loops). # Some simple commands/methods for creating event driven programs (mouse-, key-, timer-events). Especially useful for programming simple games. # A scrollable Canvas class. The scrollable Canvas can be extended interactively as needed while playing around with the turtle(s) (e. g. to follow some escaped turtle). The Window containing the default canvas when using the Pen - class also can be resized and repositioned programmatically. # Commands for controlling background color or background image. (II) Motives: I designed this module to provide utmost easy access to a sufficiently rich graphics toolkit. I consider this crucial as well for students as for teachers, who e. g. have to decide which programming language to use for teaching programming. Considering turtle graphics as a very appropriate tool for introductory programming courses I used the current turtle.py as a central tool in my book "Python for kids" despite beeing well aware of its deficiencies. Now I propose a better one. You may unterstand by intentions best by having a look at the 25+ example scripts (with the included demoViewer) provided in the xturtle.zip file, which can be downloaded from the above mentioned website. (I think these demos should not be included in the standard distribution, they could go into a special edu-distro as Kirby Urner suggested lately.) I would very much appreciate if xturtle.py could go into Python 2.5 Let's see Gregor _______________________________________________ Python-Dev mailing list Python-Dev@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-dev Unsubscribe: http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-dev/archive%40mail-archive.com
