[IronPython] Integration: now I am totally confused

[Dino Viehland]

For integrated mode you can use the VS SDK sample of IronPython which IPS is based off of.  But it's more onerous as you need to build the sample it's not just something you download and install.  I do agree though that this is an alpha product - after all at its core is just a sample.

While we're on the subject I'll just point out the developer position we're hiring for (http://members.microsoft.com/careers/search/details.aspx?JobID=8BEEE2C2-A95D-41C6-9075-CF6347EE07F1) specifically calls out us wanting to include VS IDE support.  So this is something we want to do but we need someone to do it :).

From: users-bounces at lists.ironpython.com [mailto:users-bounces at lists.ironpython.com] On Behalf Of Pigneri, Rocco
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 9:00 AM
To: Discussion of IronPython
Subject: Re: [IronPython] Integration: now I am totally confused

Dear "cyberpro60",

I, too, have run into your problems and share your experiences.  Unfortunately, it seems that the maintainer of IPStudio is not answering e-mail on this list although others, such as Michael Foord, have been kind enough to answer whatever questions they can about IPStudio.

Here is what I have discovered from playing with IPS:

- IPS is a new, isolated version of the IronPythonIntegration VSX example project from the VS SDK's.  As far as I can tell, IPS cannot be integrated into the full VS, thus making it more difficult to use IPY with static languages such as C#.  IronPythonIntegration is still available and may be able to integrate with the rest of VS, but I have not yet tried it.

- IPS will not hurt any installed versions of VS.  I have three different versions installed, and none of them has been hurt at all.

- I could not get IPS to work with 1.1.1.  There's a directory under where IPS is installed that has IronPython.dll and IronMath.dll in their 1.1.0 versions.  Replacing them with 1.1.1 didn't produce any runtime changes.

- Microsoft's website claims that you can build language backends that use both the isolated and integrated modes.  However, IPS's website only states that you need the isolated mode.  It's mum about using integrated mode.

- IMHO, IPS is still very much an "alpha" product.  While it does offer quite a bit of functionality, I was unable to perform many common VS tasks (creating references to projects or stand-alone DLL's, using UI widgets that require resources, deleting files from a project, and others) that are needed in larger projects.  I found it particularly strong in creating WinForms forms and dialogs whose Python code can then be pulled out of IPS and used with minimal changes in the rest of your application.  However, I do advise writing any code for your UI outside of IPS.  Any syntax or reference errors cause the GUI builder to disappear until you fix the problem and then reload the GUI editor.

Hope that helps,

Rocco

________________________________
From: users-bounces at lists.ironpython.com [mailto:users-bounces at lists.ironpython.com] On Behalf Of cyberpro60 at hotmail.com
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 6:47 AM
To: users at lists.ironpython.com
Subject: [IronPython] Integration: now I am totally confused
I have read through ALL the posts that mention integration of Iron Python into Visual Studio and I have to admit that I am now more confused than before I started. From my perspective it seems that the IP website actually exacerbates the confusion by NOT stating the obvious.

Just so you know: I want to know if the latest beta version (IP v2.00 or any version) integrates into the full release version Visual Studio 2008 and I can't find a clear cut answer to this question anywhere!

Sure, I have read the Iron Python Studio page and yes, I do know that you can build a standalone VS look-a-like [isolated] version running in a Visual Studio Shell - which is fine if you don't have Visual Studio installed. But what if you do? I have Visual Studio 2008 installed - so does IP automatically integrate with it upon installation? If it doesn't what do I have to do to get it to happen without wrecking my Visual Studio installation?

For example, Microsoft says that you can get IP working in BOTH isolated AND integrated modes ???? Is this still true of the latest release candidates ? Visual Studio 2008 Shell (Isolated) is listed as a "prerequisite" for Python Studio .... which obviously doesn't look like it will work if you have VS 2008 already installed. So can you use Visual Studio Shell (Integrated) instead?? So many questions .... so few answers. (it sort of looks like we haven't advanced much beyond the days when IP was first offered as an "Integrated" component of Visual Studio --- which sort of worked sometimes ... a little bit ... if you were really lucky.

There seems to be such a mass of conflicting information out there which is all so unnecessary - all it takes is for one of the developers to post a clear and unequivocal statement about this issue on IP website. Problem solved! If IP integrates right now then fine .... if it doesn't then I will wait until it does. What I can't afford to do is stuff up my current VS installation experimenting with something that I have no idea is going to work or not.

Thanks in anticipation for any forthcoming "enlightenment"!
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