[Tutor] Re: Real World Python

Mon, 19 Mar 2001 08:27:51 -0500

Another Real World Python example is in the field of engineering.  ABAQUS
(a nonlinear finite element analysis package) uses Python as its scripting
language.  I'm told they also develop their GUI's in Python for
portability.  Best of all, they provide Python API's to their code, so I
can interface with their databases in Python.
_______________________________________
Blake Garretson
Design Analysis Department
Dana Corporation - Spicer Driveshaft, Inc

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Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 14:59:51 -0600
To: tutor@python.org
From: Kojo Idrissa <kojo@tamu.edu>
Subject: [Tutor] Real World Python

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Hello all (or, as we say here in AggieLand, "Howdy!"),

This is sort of off-topic, but I thought it was interesting.  I was reading

the latest gaming column at ArsTechnica
(<http://arstechnica.com/etc/games/>), and at the bottom of the column,
they have their weekly cheat codes. This week, it's for a game called
"Blade of Darkness".  They tell you to enable the codes, you have to make
changes to your menu.py file.  ".py!?!  Hey!". I thought, "They're using
Python to configure this game!...and I recognized it!...and I know some
(ok, very little) Python!  Wow!"

Ok, maybe I overreacted, but for a Python novice like myself, it was pretty

cool.  I even understood the seven lines of code they wanted you to add to
the config file.

Ok, the point?  I thought it might be interesting if we posted some of the
more down to earth Real World uses of Python when we came across them.  The

question seems to keep coming up (especially from newer people) about what
can be done with Python or who's using Python.  I mean, a lot of us have
heard about how NASA and Disney and ILM are using it, but how many of us
(especially people new to the language) are going to be working in or
visiting any of those places any time soon? (I think Ron and I probably
live closest to NASA's JSC...I'm not planning any trips in the near future,

how about you Ron?) On the other hand, the Blade of Darkness demo is
included on the Maximum PC CD that came in the mail earlier this week, and
is on newstands now.  I suddenly have more incentive to install the
demo.  It seems that if we had more of these examples, the answer to that
oft-asked question could become, "You can use Python in about 10
minutes.  Just go load up that game/app that uses it and get to typing!"

That's my idea.  What do the rest of you think?

****************************
Kojo Idrissa
KPMG Scholar
Accounting Doctoral Student
Texas A&M University

Kojo@tamu.edu
401M Wehner Bldg.
979-862-2726
****************************