On Tuesday, 27 January 2015 18:10:41 UTC-4, Gonzalo Peña-Castellanos wrote: > > Hi again users and devs :) > >
> Now looks is not everything and I wanted to also talk a bit a bit about > what defaults should we have on Spyder when starting fresh, some widgets > and also plugins > > I'm going to comment not as a scientist using Spyder, but as someone who is teaching beginners (and want to use Spyder as their learning environment) and who has answered questions on the LearnPython subreddit from grad students who were just beginning to learn Python and were using Spyder (and clearly were in need of guidance). For these users, Spyder, in its default configuration, is overwhelming. > *The template* > The template is what every noob will see the first time they start Spyder, > why not make the best we can to have the best but minimal template? > > - Include a def main (): > - Include the boilerplate (if __name__ == "__main__": main()) > - Include the basic scientific imports with their standard aliases > - (numpy as np, scipy as sp, matplotlib.pyplot as plt... > - shebang (# /usr/bin/env python) > > How about having an easy to find option where one can have either a blank template, or the template that you describe? (I'd suggest perhaps adding a third standard one for unittests, and give users the possibility to define their own templates easily.) > *PEP8 * > I think we should enforce the use of pep8 right from the start. Some > people > first experience with Python is through Spyder, why not enforce pep8 right > from the beginning when people are more easily persuaded? > > Also on this line, why not make 'remove trailing spaces' also a default > +1 on that one. > > *Object inspector* > The automatic connections seem like a great idea why not make at least the > editor > a default? > > *Online Help* > I hate this plugin, it looks horrible, I would argue that it needs to go > to the trash! > It's the standard default pydoc look ... yes, it looks bad (and I thought so when I first used it 10 years ago, and still do) but it is a fantastic resource. If it's removed, I'll just have my students do python -m pydoc -b in a terminal window. > > *Plugins* > The idea of plugins needs to be tackled ASAP. Of course the backbone for > this is already there > but we need to give the next step. > > - Autodiscovery of plugins > - Make developing plugins inside Spyder simple providing templates in > the file explorer > - Provide through projects something similar (create a new Project > would give the option to make a spyder plugin) > - I think in the view menu we need to have Panes (Standard in Spyder), > and Plugins (3rd party plugins) > - I think plugins should be *pip* installable or/and, *conda* > installable (with the conda plugin) > - Once plugins are installable, profiler, pylint and conda packages > should go to their own repos > > *Anaconda* > This might be a touchy subject for some, but I will go ahead anyway. > > Before conda and the anaconda distribution the chances of getting people > in my institute to switch > to a Python based stack were pretty low. After anaconda, that has > dramatically changed and I expect a full > conversion (from matlab and delphi... yuck!) by the end of 2015 :) > > I know there is winpython and python xy, and etc etc, but perhaps we > should enforce the use of anaconda > with a bit more enthusiasm. > > The advantages are clear to me: > > - Stable installation cross platform > - The use of conda environments allows for a compact and stable use > and reuse (sharing) of science :) > - A broad array of ready to use scientific packages > - The ability to use the conda package manager plugin inside Spyder to > install ALL of Spyder plugins > - The ability to have dedicated Spyder and Binstar ( > https://binstar.org/dashboard) channels > - Provide dedicated experiences for different disciplines > - Have a metapackage to install all the basic optional dependencies > on spyder on one click > - Have a metapackage to install all the basic optional plugins on > spyder on one click > > What are your thoughts on these issues I raise? > I found Spyder through the Anaconda distribution myself: it made installing many packages easy and provides an ideal teaching environment for me and my students as it removes the pain of installing various required third-party packages. > > Please comment and remember to follow/subscribe/like/request membership to > the new > Spyder communication channels > One big issue for me: having the possibility to change the default language of the UI. Yes, I know, it picks it from the LANG environment. But, I do not want to change it for all my programs; and I would like to switch it back and forth depending on whether or not I'm teaching people who are comfortable using English. Cheers, André > *Be Social* > > - Twitter <https://twitter.com/spyder_ide>, Facebook > <https://www.facebook.com/SpyderIDE>, Google+ Page > <https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107193318474220481102/107193318474220481102> > > - Google+ Community > > <https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107193318474220481102/communities/112932801653352854842> > - Youtube channel > <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK0uCG7DVzKUAhaw8veitkw> > > > > > > > > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "spyder" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/spyderlib. 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