FW: [Edu-sig] re: Whither PyGeo

[Arthur]

I'm forwarding this here with the hope of getting a wider audience for my
offer of a (modest) $ bounty for help in crossplatform packaging for PyGeo.

PyGeo whereabouts are:

http://home.netcom.com/~ajs

One has to read through my promo of PyGeo below to get to the bounty offer
mention near the end.

I have not done a release of PyGeo in nearly 2 years, though I have been
fiddling (and hopefully improving) it constantly - and doing something
(though not enough) about docs.  With the effort having been extended, I
hate to put it out amateurishly packaged.  Which is all I am currently
capable of - and see nothing on the horizon indicating I will have the time
to undertake that particular learning curve.  

So I am looking for something like professional help.

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: edu-sig-bounces at python.org [mailto:edu-sig-bounces at python.org] On
Behalf Of Arthur
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 4:14 AM
To: edu-sig at python.org
Subject: [Edu-sig] re: Whither PyGeo


John writes

>I've never had the opportunity to play with PyGeo, partly because
there 
>wasn't a particular need to, and partly because I was waiting for it to 
>arrive at a newer release state. However, there is a *possibility* (not 
>yet even a probability) that I'll be able to begin teaching beginning 
>Python programming to middle schoolers either in Feb. or Sept. 2005. 
>So, I'm casting about for materials to use, and PyGeo would definitely 
>be on my list if Arthur were able to whip it into shape for release. 

Not if.  When :)

>So, this message is meant primarily as one of encouragement to make a 
>newer version available that incorporates all of its improvements. But 
>also I'm wondering if there are any underlying issues with PyGeo, as 
>it's evolved, that would benefit from a discussion here? (I guess I'm 
>primarily wondering about its suitability for younger beginning 
>programmers, its API, etc.)

Its API is simple enough.  

Its educational value for younger beginning programmers less clear.

On the plus side, I think it gives them a context they may already have some

grounding in, in which to experiment.  But that context is geometry - which,

incredibly, some folks might find yucky. 

I would argue that geometry has some legs as foundational in education. And 
that until someone comes up with something convincing as the foundational
educational 
concept of the New Millenium, that we might give some serious consideration
to 
sticking with the classics. 

And I would argue that there is a connection between geometry, as the
classical foundation of logical reasoning,  and programming, as its (or "a")
productive modern incarnation, that is profound and intriguing - and that
while young folks might not explicitly understand the connection  I am
trying to make here, I am hoping that at some level they might *feel* it.

With the added self-referential factor, that in working on computer screens,
one is working within the land of applied geometry/programming.

I'm an old Literature major. For things to work, they need to work at
different levels, simultaneously.  

That said, all that is fully clear about PyGeo's educational value, and said
with any confidence, is not dissimilar to that of many such projects.  The
educational value of building it has been profound.  
But I've hogged that, I'm afraid.

FWIW, the greatest challenge I face it getting it out there in a way
its potential might be fairly explored are cross platform packaging and
distribution issues.

I won't go into the details of what I see as the issues.

I will say/announce that I have decided to take a clue from Mark
Shuttleworth and offer a $ bounty to anyone with the right background who
would willing to assist me here.

Anyone interested in discussing this can contact me either through the list
or privately at ajsiegel at optonline.com.

Thanks John for giving me the opportunity to expand a bit on a favorite
topic.

Art

























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