Does Python seem appropriate for me?

[Steve Holden]

"dsavitsk" <dsavitsk at e-coli.net> wrote in message
news:hqnE6.4915$0d.1594718 at newsrump.sjc.telocity.net...
>
> "Rick Olson" <r_olson at acusd.edu> wrote in message
> news:NJlE6.8$T3.69 at cronkite...
> > Hi--
> >
> > I'm doing some research developing some algorithms for solving
scheduling
> > problems.
>
> ***
>
> > From what I've picked up in other ngs it sounds like Python with Tkinter
> may
> > be the answer.  It sounds like I can write a GUI interface that can
> extract
> > the information from the screen.  This info can be the command line
> prompts
> > to a call execute the program.
> > Q1> Can I (relatively easily) also use the output from the program to
> change
> > display?  This would allow an interactive test bed.
> >
> Tkinter is very dynamic and interfaces can be re-written while running.
>
> > Q2> Does it seem like Python+Tkinter is an appropriate approach?  I
don't
> > want to need to become highly skilled in either to do the job.  If I can
> > piece the interface together in a week or two I'd be content.
>
> you can probably pick up python is an hour or two if you know c++.
tkinter
> ... add another hour maybe for simple stuff.
>
> >
> > Q3> Assuming Python makes sense, what books would you recommend.  Again,
I
> > don't need to acquire deep understanding.  I like the "learn by stealing
> > examples" approach, but have been burned too many times by buggy
examples.
> > Should I pick up a Tk/Tcl book or two, also?
>
> this i asked all the time.  I like "Learning Python", but most of the
books
> are good.  John Grayson wrote a Python/Tkinter book (manning) that should
> get you through (it is almost totally be example).
>
> > Q5> I'm inclined to go with the Red Hat Distribution.  Is there any
reason
> I
> > shouldn't?  Do I need a Linux book or are the docs on the Red Hat and
> Linux
> > pages adequate?
>
> For my money the Linux/Unix learning curve is a lot steeper than the
python
> one.  That said, i think that redhat installs python by default making
life
> that much simpler.  i have also found that FreeBSD makes installing
software
> (and itself for that matter) pretty easy.
>
That said, you can use Python+Tkinter with equal facility on Linux *and*
Win2k.

If you choose Red Hat Linux, you may want to stick at 6.2 unless you are
confident you can overcome the library inconsistencies introduced by 7.0.

regards
 Steve