Python Questions - July 25, 2015

[Ned Batchelder]

On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 5:15:31 PM UTC-4, mm0fmf wrote:
> On 26/07/2015 20:17, E.D.G. wrote:
> > "E.D.G." <edgrsprj at ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> > news:jf6dnQiMOZ_GxC7InZ2dnUU7-S2dnZ2d at earthlink.com...
> >
> > Posted by E.D.G.   July 26, 2015
> >
> >         These are some additional comments related to my original post.
> >
> >        The effort I have been discussing actually involves developing a
> > totally free version of some language that scientists around the world
> > could easily install and use.
> >
> >
> > 1.  With my own science related Perl programs I provide people with .exe
> > versions in addition to the .pl versions.  And for the .pl versions, at
> > one of my Web sites there is actually an entire Perl programming
> > language directory available in a .zip package.  So, people can download
> > the file, unzip it, and then save it as the Perl directory and .pl
> > programs will then run on that computer.  We would like to be able to do
> > the same thing with Python if we start working with that language.  And
> > a response in another post indicates that this should be possible.
> >
> > 2.  Python looks especially attractive because so many people are using
> > it. And I myself have a friend who is a very experienced professional
> > Python programmer.  On the other hand, there are so many versions of
> > Python that it might be difficult at first to determine which one to
> > start with.
> >
> > 3.  I asked that Python programmer if Python could run on an Internet
> > server as a CGI program.  And the answer was "I have no idea."  So,
> > amusingly, apparently even experienced professional programmers don't
> > know everything there is to know about a given programming language!
> >
> > 4.  I myself know that Perl programs will run on Internet servers as CGI
> > programs and have written several myself using a development program
> > called Xampp to create and test them before installing them on the
> > server computer.
> >
> > 5.  My retired professional programming colleague has now told me that
> > he downloaded and installed the ActiveState Windows version of Python
> > with no difficulties.  So, that is encouraging news.
> >
> > 6.  He said that he is looking around for a good IDE for Python and
> > found one called "Eric" that he is checking.
> >
> > 7.  With my Perl language programs I have developed a resource that will
> > do the following.  And I imagine that this could also be done with
> > Python. This resource can't be developed with many and probably most
> > programming languages.
> >
> >        In part because of limited calculation speeds it can take one of
> > my important probability calculation Perl programs as much a two hours
> > to run and create all of the necessary data arrays.  Many, many millions
> > of calculations are involved.  And once everything is set, for time
> > limitation reasons it would be ordinarily be impossible to make any
> > changes to the data or to the original program code without losing all
> > of the data.
> >
> >        So, I have developed a special Perl program that makes that
> > possible. And as I said, I am guessing that this approach would also
> > work with Python.
> >
> >        When the Perl program is done with its calculations, instead of
> > ending it jumps to another Perl program.  But all of the data in the
> > arrays it created remain active in memory.  The original program code
> > can then be changed.  The second Perl program is then told that the
> > changes are complete and that it should return to the first program.
> > Perl then attempt to recompile the original code.  If it is successful
> > it then uses the new code and does whatever is specified.  The
> > previously created arrays are still active in memory using the same
> > array names etc.
> >
> >        If there was an error in the new code, a Windows screen appears
> > explaining that there was an error and the compilation ends.  But, the
> > data remain in the active computer memory.
> >
> >        Changes can then be are made to the program code to fix the
> > error. And, the second Perl program is told to try again.  If there are
> > no new errors the first program recompiles and runs using the already
> > created arrays etc.
> >
> >       This is a very useful resource for scientists as it lets them
> > create and test new program code without having to recreate all of the
> > data arrays. And as I stated, it would probably not be possible to
> > develop such a resource with most programming languages.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > E.D.G.
> >
> 
> Am I the only person thinking Troll?

Yes.

--Ned.