python for console game development, memory tracking

[Lucas Raab]

"Carl Banks" <imbosol at aerojockey.invalid> wrote in message
news:IhBic.8575$Gp.6977 at fe1.columbus.rr.com...
> Moosebumps wrote:
> >
> >
> > When I have time, I am planning to evaluate Python for console game
> > development (on Playstation 2, GameCube, and Xbox).  Does anyone have
any
> > experience with this?
> >
> > Pretty much the only resource I have found, and the only thing that
makes me
> > think it might be possible is this:
> >
> > http://asbahr.com/python.html
> >
> > I would be interested to hear anybody's experience with Python on
consoles.
>
> I can't speak for Game Cube or XBOX, but I have a Playstation running
> Linux, so I know a little.  I suspect Game Cube and XBOX have similar,
> but less severe, concerns.  Of course, since my Playstation has Linux
> and a big ol' hard drive, I am not constrained with memory as much as
> a native PS2 game would be.
>
> It seems that Python works just fine.  I was able to control graphics
> straight from Python using Numeric and a little C wrapper, and it
> worked pretty well.  It wasn't much of a demo, though, and of course
> almost all of the graphics work would be done from C anyways.  I don't
> have much more experience than a few graphics demos, though.
>
> One thing that bothers me a little is that Python uses double
> precision floats, but PS2 only supports single-precision natively.  I
> suspect most calculation-type code would be done in C, though.
>
>
> > Before I even begin investigating though, there is a major question I
have:
> > How can you track the memory usage of Python?  I would like to be able
to
> > track allocations by function / class, etc.  I have googled and seen a
bunch
> > of threads with 1 guy asking the same exact question that I am, and no
> > responses, which leads me to believe it's very easy or not possible.
This
> > would be dealbreaker unfortunately.  But I am optimistic that Python is
well
> > designed so there must be some solution.
>
> You're right that memory is probably the biggest factor against Python
> use, at least if you don't patch it.  If you use it for production
> work, I don't think there's any way you'd be able to use Python's
> regular memory allocation.  So, seeing that you'd have to use your own
> memory allocation, you can keep track of the stuff yourself.  Or you
> can use a library that works on PS2 and also does what you need.
>
>
> -- 
> CARL BANKS                      http://www.aerojockey.com/software
> "If you believe in yourself, drink your school, stay on drugs, and
> don't do milk, you can get work."
>           -- Parody of Mr. T from a Robert Smigel Cartoon

There is a similar thing for Xbox. You can download Linux onto your Xbox,
then hook up a mouse and keyboard to the memory ports on your controller. I
can't personally attest to how well that works. Since I can't exactly recall
where I saw it, you might try Googling "Xbox Linux".

Lucas