[PYTHON MATRIX-SIG] ANNOUNCE: Gist Scientific graphics module for Python

[L. Busby]

I'm releasing the first version of my Gist module for Python.
You can pick up a copy at

  ftp-icf.llnl.gov:/pub/python/busby/pygist-1.0.tgz

This module is dependent on the Numeric module due to Hugunin
and others.  So until that module reaches public release, the
Gist module should also stay within the matrix-sig.

Following is the README.gist file from the release:

==============================================================================
This is the README file for the Python Gist Scientific Graphics Module,
version 1.0, written by Lee Busby of Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory.

			Copyright (c) 1996.
	    The Regents of the University of California.
			All rights reserved.

==============================================================================
DESCRIPTION

"Gist" is a scientific graphics library written by David H. Munro
of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It features support for
three common graphics output devices: X-Windows, (Color) PostScript,
and ANSI/ISO Standard Computer Graphics Metafiles (CGM). The library
is small (written directly to Xlib), portable, efficient, and
full-featured. It produces x-vs-y plots with "good" tick marks and tick
labels, 2-D quadrilateral mesh plots with contours, vector fields, or
pseudocolor maps on such meshes, with 3-D plots on the way.

The Python Gist module utilizes the new ``Numeric'' module due to J.
Hugunin and others. It is therefore fast and able to handle large
datasets. The Gist module includes an X-windows event dispatcher which
can be dynamically added (e.g., via importing a dynamically loaded
module) to the Python interpreter after a simple two-line modification
to the Python core. This makes fast mouse-controlled zoom, pan, and
other graphic operations available to the researcher while maintaining
the usual Python command-line interface.

==============================================================================
AVAILABILITY

  ftp-icf.llnl.gov:/pub/python/busby/pygist-1.0.tgz

==============================================================================
CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE

./LEGAL.gist			: Copyright and Disclaimer
./Lib/numeric/gist.help		: Major documentation for gist module
./Lib/numeric/gist.py		: Python code for gist module
./Lib/numeric/gistdemo.py	: Demonstration program
./Lib/numeric/help.help		: Documentation for help module
./Lib/numeric/help.py		: The help module
./Modules/Setup.forgist		: Typical compilation lines for gist
./Modules/gistCmodule.c		: C code for gist module
./Parser/myreadline.c		: Replacement for python file
./README.gist			: This file

==============================================================================
INSTALLATION

Installation of the Python gist module is complicated by its dependence
on another not-yet standard Python module, the "Numeric" module by
Hugunin et al, and the Gist graphics library itself. The Gist module has
been tested only with Python 1.3.

The current version of the Numeric module as of 24May96 can be obtained as

  ftp://sls-ftp.lcs.mit.edu/pub/jjh/NumericalPython-0.36.tar.gz

It includes instructions sufficient for its installation.

The Gist library is included with the distribution of David Munro's Yorick
interpreter.  The current version is 1.2.  Yorick can be obtained at

  ftp-icf.llnl.gov:/pub/Yorick/yorick-1.2.tar.gz
  wuarchive.wustl.edu: /languages/yorick/yorick-1.2.tar.gz
  sunsite.unc.edu: /pub/languages/yorick/yorick-1.2.tar.gz
  sunsite.unc.edu: /pub/Linux/apps/math/matrix/yorick-1.2.tar.gz
  netlib.att.com: /netlib/env/yorick-1.2.tar.gz
  netlib2.cs.utk.edu: /env/yorick-1.2.tar.gz

Yorick also includes ample instructions for its installation. It is
easiest to simply install the entire Yorick distribution. This requires
only about 5MB of disk space. Building Yorick requires 10-15MB of
additional temporary space. If you are interested in Python Gist,
chances are you may also be interested in Yorick itself. However, should
you desire to remove the files not strictly necessary for compilation
and installation of Python Gist, here is a list of the *required* files
and directories: (${prefix} defaults to /usr/local.)

  ${prefix}/Yorick/gist		# Style and color palette files
  ${prefix}/bin/gist		# Standalone CGM browser program
  ${prefix}/lib/libgist.a	# The Gist library
  ${prefix}/yorhome/{dispas.h, dispat.h, gist.h, hlevel.h} # header files

You may also want to save or print out various documentation files
included with Yorick. After you have installed Yorick and unpacked the
Numeric module into your toplevel Python working directory, you are
ready to install Gist:

CONCISE INSTRUCTIONS

1) Install Yorick.
2) Untar the Numeric module into your toplevel Python working directory,
   and follow its instructions up to the point where you would begin
   compilation of python.  (Untar the additional patches and make
   necessary additions and modifications to Modules/Setup.)
3) Copy pygist-1.0.tgz to the top of your python distribution.
4) cd Python-1.3; zcat pygist-1.0.tgz | tar xf -
   This adds files at the top level, and in subdirectories Lib and Modules.
   It overwrites the file Parser/myreadline.c with a slightly modified
   version.  Save a backup copy if you want to compare the change.
5) Modify Modules/Setup by adding appropriate lines from
   Modules/Setup.forgist.  Setup.forgist assumes that you installed
   Yorick in its default location.  Change YPREFIX as necessary if
   your Yorick is installed somewhere else.  The gist module can be
   dynamically loaded on most platforms, if you prefer.
6) Configure and compile Python.

=============================================================================
RUNNING GIST

After you have successfully compiled Python with Gist, you can test
it by running

  >>> import gistdemo
  >>> gistdemo.run()

and you can get started with the online help using

  >>> from gist import *
  >>> help("help.")
  >>> help("gist.")

=============================================================================
AUTHOR'S ADDRESS

Lee Busby, mailstop L-472
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
7000 East Avenue
Livermore, CA, USA 94550
E-mail: busby1@llnl.gov
=============================================================================

=================
MATRIX-SIG  - SIG on Matrix Math for Python

send messages to: matrix-sig@python.org
administrivia to: matrix-sig-request@python.org
=================