[ANN Python Tools for Visual Studio 1.5 Alpha

[Dino Viehland]

We're pleased to announce the release of Python Tools for Visual Studio 1.5 Alpha http://pytools.codeplex.com/releases/view/82011 . Python Tools for Visual Studio (PTVS) is an open-source plug-in for Visual Studio which supports programming with the Python language. PTVS supports a broad range of features including: 

* Supports Cpython, IronPython, Jython and Pypy
* Python editor with advanced member, signature intellisense and refactoring
* Code navigation: "Find all refs", goto definition, and object browser
* Local and remote debugging
* Profiling with multiple views
* Integrated REPL window with inline matplotlib graphics
* Support for HPC clusters and MPI, including debugging & Profiling
* Interactive parallel computing via integrated IPython REPL

The primary new feature for this release is Django! The http://www.djangoproject.com is a popular Python webframework/CMS which is used by many reputable companies and high traffic websites. In this Alpha release the following are supported:

* Create a New Project / Django Application
* Add Django HTML Template
* Intellisense for Django templates
* Runtime debugging of Django templates
* Use IIS with a pure Python FastCGI interface

There have also been a couple of new intellisense features contributed from the community. This includes completions after "def " based upon methods defined in base classes and completions for exception types after "raise" statements" (thanks Zooba!).

Full list of issues addressed in this release:

* 673 Setting Interpreter Programmatically
* 336 Pixelated Icons on Windows 7
* 665 Relative interpreter path
* 664 Display each available doc strings for one element
* 657 Code Completion / IntelliSense Python 3.2 (re.compile)
* 662 IronPython interactive running incredibly slow
* 654 Built-in functions have parameter info default value issues
* 226 Display list of exceptions after typing raise or except
* 637 Provide completions after "raise " for known exception types
* 580 Provide completions as "def"

We'd like to thank the following people who took the time to report the issues and feedback for this release:
Anna0311, golubdr, hjyh, tramsay, zooba.