If I might ask, what are you using the file for? If you're simply using it to store data for your app, then would it be possible to use something like HTML5 Local Storage (http://diveintohtml5.info/storage.html) instead? Obviously, if you need to export the data or save it in a particular format, you'll need to write a file.
As a second thought, does your app. really need to be 100% local? Would it be possible to use something like Google App. Engine (which has a free tier) to host the server-side Python code for your app? Thanks, Rohit Patnaik On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 11:49 AM, David Goldsmith <[email protected]>wrote: > Why a Web app? Aside from portability (so I'll be using JavaScript or > pyjamas, it sounds like), probably the worst reason of all (at least from a > purist's perspective): employers (esp. corporate ones) want Web developers, > but generally aren't willing to train on the job (at least that's been my > experience) and I have very little Web development experience (and even > less than that doing it on the job, with no prospect of doing it in my > current job) so I figure I'm going to need to train myself, and to have > evidence that I've learned a thing or two, I'd like a substantial Web app > in my portfolio that I can point to when I claim that I have Web > development experience. So although I'd like to think my app may have > broad appeal, that's not the primary reason for writing it as a Web app. > Plus, I'm in that camp that sees stand-alone apps as on their way out: the > convenience of having one (kind of) platform that can run everything is > just two overpowering, IMO (which is why I'm a little shocked that we still > don't have a more universal solution to Web apps having to jump through > hoops to do something as simple as writing to a local file--I mean, I > appreciate the security risk and all, but I'd just assumed that this would > have been addressed by now). > > DG > > On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 10:31 AM, > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Send seattle-python mailing list submissions to >> [email protected] >> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >> http://lists.seapig.org/mailman/listinfo/seattle-python >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >> [email protected] >> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >> [email protected] >> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >> than "Re: Contents of seattle-python digest..." >> >> >> Today's Topics: >> >> 1. Re: Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for the >> project (Toby Champion) >> 2. Re: Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for the >> project (Alec Koumjian) >> 3. Re: Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for the >> project (Mike Orr) >> 4. Re: Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for the >> project (Kevin LaTona) >> 5. Re: seattle-python Digest, Vol 109, Issue 12 (David Goldsmith) >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> Message: 1 >> Date: Thu, 09 May 2013 08:01:23 -0700 >> From: Toby Champion <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> the project >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >> >> Why a web app? >> >> On 5/8/13 11:00 PM, David Goldsmith wrote: >> > So I'm writing this GUI app using wxPython when it dawns on me: why >> > don't I write it as a Web app (by which I mean Wikipedia's second >> > definition, namely "[an] application that is coded in a >> > browser-supported programming language...and reliant on a common web >> > browser to render the application executable." Then I "discover" a >> > basic problem: Web apps don't appear to be able to straightforwardly >> > write to local files (doing so is a central function of the intended >> > app). I tried the idea of having the Web app post form inputs to a >> > compiled Python executable, which would then format the inputs and >> > write the file, but, as I came to understand it, in order for all this >> > to occur "locally," my app would have to run a local "server" to which >> > the Web app would post and which would "run" the Python >> > executable--too complicated for my purpose! (Which is to wade slowly >> > into Web app development, not dive right into the deep-end.) So the >> > "workaround" I'm contemplating now is to have the app create the >> > text--it is meant to be straight ascii, not even unicode--and render >> > it in a browser viewing object, e.g., a frame, tab, or popup, and then >> > require the user to employ the browser's File->Save Page As... menu >> > function to save the result. So my question is: can anyone point me >> > to an example of a page that uses client-side code (preferably Python, >> > of course) to process html form text inputs into a page which the code >> > then renders in a new browser view object? (Yes, I know I've probably >> > visited thousands of such already and just never registered that that >> > is what they're doing because I've never cared before.) Thanks! >> > >> > OlyDLG >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 2 >> Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 08:05:35 -0700 >> From: Alec Koumjian <[email protected]> >> To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> the project >> Message-ID: >> <CAEtQDuSBTC1BVB9Dv7dO3uSaE66= >> [email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >> >> I have not used it, but have heard good things about http://kivy.org/ >> >> >> >> On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 8:01 AM, Toby Champion <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> >> > Why a web app? >> > >> > >> > On 5/8/13 11:00 PM, David Goldsmith wrote: >> > >> >> So I'm writing this GUI app using wxPython when it dawns on me: why >> don't >> >> I write it as a Web app (by which I mean Wikipedia's second definition, >> >> namely "[an] application that is coded in a browser-supported >> programming >> >> language...and reliant on a common web browser to render the >> application >> >> executable." Then I "discover" a basic problem: Web apps don't appear >> to >> >> be able to straightforwardly write to local files (doing so is a >> central >> >> function of the intended app). I tried the idea of having the Web app >> post >> >> form inputs to a compiled Python executable, which would then format >> the >> >> inputs and write the file, but, as I came to understand it, in order >> for >> >> all this to occur "locally," my app would have to run a local "server" >> to >> >> which the Web app would post and which would "run" the Python >> >> executable--too complicated for my purpose! (Which is to wade slowly >> into >> >> Web app development, not dive right into the deep-end.) So the >> >> "workaround" I'm contemplating now is to have the app create the >> text--it >> >> is meant to be straight ascii, not even unicode--and render it in a >> browser >> >> viewing object, e.g., a frame, tab, or popup, and then require the >> user to >> >> employ the browser's File->Save Page As... menu function to save the >> >> result. So my question is: can anyone point me to an example of a page >> >> that uses client-side code (preferably Python, of course) to process >> html >> >> form text inputs into a page which the code then renders in a new >> browser >> >> view object? (Yes, I know I've probably visited thousands of such >> already >> >> and just never registered that that is what they're doing because I've >> >> never cared before.) Thanks! >> >> >> >> OlyDLG >> >> >> > >> > >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: < >> http://lists.seapig.org/pipermail/seattle-python/attachments/20130509/10249841/attachment-0001.html >> > >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 3 >> Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 09:09:36 -0700 >> From: Mike Orr <[email protected]> >> To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> the project >> Message-ID: >> <CAH9f=uqSY_s9z-_d_LbZ=0VoJgh_3teDk= >> [email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >> >> On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 11:00 PM, David Goldsmith <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> >> > So I'm writing this GUI app using wxPython when it dawns on me: why >> don't >> > I write it as a Web app (by which I mean Wikipedia's second definition, >> > namely "[an] application that is coded in a browser-supported >> programming >> > language...and reliant on a common web browser to render the application >> > executable." Then I "discover" a basic problem: Web apps don't appear >> to >> > be able to straightforwardly write to local files (doing so is a central >> > function of the intended app). >> > >> >> You could write it as a browser plug-in. That would be mainly Javascript >> but it would be able to write local files. It would be specific to one >> browser type though. >> >> Is this program for yourself or your colleagues, or would end-users need >> to >> install it themselves? If you have to support users long-distance, you may >> want to stick to a desktop app. That way they can use a one-click >> installer >> in their familiar manner. >> >> Chris and I have a hybrid web-desktop application; the desktop mode being >> a >> wxPython application running a Pylons daemon and an embedded browser, >> wrapped up in py2exe (Windows) or py2app (Mac) for the installer. It works >> but it's kind of kludgey and not that excellent, and it took a while to >> get >> py2exe to work right. Web applications are great for things that are >> inherently HTMLy or thin client-y, but not so great if you need things >> beyond that like writing to files, a "desktop app feel", or a "desktop app >> installation experience". >> >> Toby wrote: >> > Why a web app? >> >> A funny thing about this group is that because we all work in the computer >> field, many of us don't trust computers any farther than we can throw them >> (and the same for social networks, smartphones, etc). The boosters will >> tell you to make everything a webapp (or even better a Facebook app) >> because PCs are so 1990s, but you'll be happier if you ask whether it's >> really a good fit for the web. >> >> - Can it be recast to depend only on typcal webapp capabilities and still >> be *convenient* for the user? If yes, a webapp might be the way to go. If >> no, you're shorehorning. >> >> - Is the main problem you writing a complex application, or users getting >> frustrated installing/upgrading it? If the latter, a webapp will >> automatically install and upgrade. If the former, the primary issue may be >> what's easiest for you to write. >> >> - If you're looking for a target application to gain experience in web >> programming, is this the right application for it? >> >> - There are two different kinds of web applications nowadays. The mainly >> server-side ones in Pylons/Django/Flask/etc, and the mainly client-side >> ones in Javascript (or perhaps Pyjamas). Each has some different >> capabilities and advantages/disadvantages. >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: < >> http://lists.seapig.org/pipermail/seattle-python/attachments/20130509/b32024f9/attachment-0001.html >> > >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 4 >> Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 09:40:20 -0700 >> From: Kevin LaTona <[email protected]> >> To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> the project >> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes >> >> >> > On 5/8/13 11:00 PM, David Goldsmith wrote: >> > So I'm writing this GUI app using wxPython when it dawns on me: why >> > don't I write it as a Web app (by which I mean Wikipedia's second >> > definition, >> >> >> >> >> Some other ideas to look at for a GUI are: >> >> >> TideSDK | Create multi-platform desktop apps with HTML5, CSS3 and >> JavaScript. It has a Js to Python Bridge that looks like an >> interesting idea. >> http://www.tidesdk.org/ >> >> >> Python Wrapper for Google V8 Javascript Engine >> http://code.google.com/p/pyv8/ >> >> >> PyV8 is being used in this sublime plugin >> Emmet (ex-Zen Coding) for Sublime Text. ( For any sublime user this is >> an interesting plugin idea worth looking at for HTML page coding. ) >> https://github.com/sergeche/emmet-sublime >> >> >> OS X GUI >> The most important usage of this is writing Cocoa GUI applications on >> Mac OS X in pure Python >> http://pythonhosted.org/pyobjc/ >> >> -Kevin >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> Message: 5 >> Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 10:31:14 -0700 >> From: David Goldsmith <[email protected]> >> To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [SEAPY] seattle-python Digest, Vol 109, Issue 12 >> Message-ID: >> < >> caftpszoidmitp6zbrab9rhahbr-4ok_wci9t3bcoslzzq84...@mail.gmail.com> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >> >> Thanks, guys! >> >> DG >> >> Message: 5 >> >> > Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 23:44:55 -0700 >> > From: Jim Gray <[email protected]> >> > To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> > Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> > the project >> > Message-ID: >> > < >> > ca+y4obucdjfm4wpqesav+gacsodhbki2gzkggxhyz2wuu+r...@mail.gmail.com> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >> > >> > I think you're talking about Flask & Flask-WTF. >> > >> > Jim >> > -------------- next part -------------- >> > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> > URL: < >> > >> http://lists.seapig.org/pipermail/seattle-python/attachments/20130508/022e97d2/attachment-0001.html >> > > >> > >> > ------------------------------ >> > >> > Message: 6 >> > Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 07:05:04 -0400 >> > From: Chris Barker - NOAA Federal <[email protected]> >> > To: Seattle Python Interest Group <[email protected]> >> > Subject: Re: [SEAPY] Off topic, except that I'd like to use Python for >> > the project >> > Message-ID: <-7154996020384609227@unknownmsgid> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 >> > >> > David, >> > >> > Depending on what you need to do, running a python based web server is >> > actually remarkably easy--there are a bunch of web frameworks that are >> > each suited to different uses, but one or more is likely to suit your >> > needs. >> > >> > That being said, an all-in-the browser app could be a fine option as >> > well. Look for info on "single page" apps, or " rich Internet apps" >> > for info. >> > >> > Note that the only language in browsers is JavaScript , so that's what >> > you need to use. The exceptions to this are other languages that are >> > translated to JavaScript. For python, check out pyjamas and brython. >> > >> > In fact, pyjamas may be just what you need ( short of using JavaScript >> > directly). If you do want to go the JavaScript route, check out >> > backbone.js >> > >> > Good luck! >> > >> > Chris >> > >> > On May 9, 2013, at 2:00 AM, David Goldsmith <[email protected]> >> > wrote: >> > >> > > So I'm writing this GUI app using wxPython when it dawns on me: why >> > don't I write it as a Web app (by which I mean Wikipedia's second >> > definition, namely "[an] application that is coded in a >> browser-supported >> > programming language...and reliant on a common web browser to render the >> > application executable." Then I "discover" a basic problem: Web apps >> don't >> > appear to be able to straightforwardly write to local files (doing so >> is a >> > central function of the intended app). I tried the idea of having the >> Web >> > app post form inputs to a compiled Python executable, which would then >> > format the inputs and write the file, but, as I came to understand it, >> in >> > order for all this to occur "locally," my app would have to run a local >> > "server" to which the Web app would post and which would "run" the >> Python >> > executable--too complicated for my purpose! (Which is to wade slowly >> into >> > Web app development, not dive right into the deep-end.) So the >> > "workaround" I'm contemplating now is to have the a >> > pp create the text--it is meant to be straight ascii, not even >> > unicode--and render it in a browser viewing object, e.g., a frame, tab, >> or >> > popup, and then require the user to employ the browser's File->Save Page >> > As... menu function to save the result. So my question is: can anyone >> > point me to an example of a page that uses client-side code (preferably >> > Python, of course) to process html form text inputs into a page which >> the >> > code then renders in a new browser view object? (Yes, I know I've >> probably >> > visited thousands of such already and just never registered that that is >> > what they're doing because I've never cared before.) Thanks! >> > > >> > > OlyDLG >> > >> > >> > End of seattle-python Digest, Vol 109, Issue 12 >> > *********************************************** >> > >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: < >> http://lists.seapig.org/pipermail/seattle-python/attachments/20130509/a0b9296c/attachment.html >> > >> >> End of seattle-python Digest, Vol 109, Issue 13 >> *********************************************** >> > > > > -- > From "A Letter From The Future" in "Peak Everything" by Richard Heinberg: > > "By the time I was an older teenager, a certain...attitude was developing > among the young people...a feeling of utter contempt for anyone over a > certain age--maybe 30 or 40. The adults had consumed so many resources, > and now there were none left for their own children...when those adults > were younger, they [were] just doing what everybody else was doing...they > figured it was normal to cut down ancient forests for...phone books, pump > every last gallon of oil to power their SUV's...[but] for...my generation > all that was just a dim memory...We [grew up] living in darkness, with > shortages of food and water, with riots in the streets, with people begging > on street corners...for us, the adults were the enemy." > > Want to *really* understand what's *really* going on? Read "Peak > Everything." > > >
