Python Liberation Front

Firedrop 2005.8 has Plug-ins, and two Tutorials

Now that Hans Nowak has released Firedrop 2005.8, maybe it's time for me to issue a testimonial.

I have been using Firedrop since Christmas, 2003 and I have never had one problem. I run my whole sprawling web site on Firedrop. Although I have not even begun to explore its full capabilities, Firedrop is fully and easily customizable. The source code is clear and understandable, and everything is done in a Pythonic way, even the user interface (built with Hans' Wax on top of wxPython) feels like it was designed by Guido.

Now, Firedrop is being enhanced with Plug-ins. I can't wait to try them out, and I will as soon as I get home this weekend.

A nice fellow named Fuzzyman has written a Tutorial for how to create and use Plug-ins for Firedrop. So, I have unearthed an old tutorial (actually I call it a Mini How-To) that I created a year ago that takes you step by step through the process of setting up a Firedrop weblog from scratch. And, I have taken both my Mini How-To and Fuzzyman's Plug-in Tutorial and put them in my Python Tutorials page, where Firedrop now has its own section. How do you like that! ;-)))

I used to correspond (a year ago or so) with a few other Firedrop users, back when this web site had a discussion forum, but I had to discontinue the discussion forum due to the spam. I'd like to put up another discussion forum, or at least a comments facility on this blog, just as soon as I can find one that can be run without spam. In the meantime, I'd love to hear from anyone in the nascent but vibrant Firedrop Community, but you'll have to reach me by email at rdsteph@mac.com.

Really, Firedrop is a great tool, easy to use, expandable, and with an interesting future. Hans Nowak has also helped me immensely down through the last few years with his advice and hard work, and if you try out Firedrop ( or Wax) and like it, please give Hans a big thank you in any way you can. He's a great guy.

Podcasts, my new iPod, and yet more Podcasts ;-)))

I only purchased my iPod two days ago, on Sunday. It feels like I've had it a year, I am enjoying it so much. Haven't listened to any music yet, I am listening to podcasts, the Gilmor Gang etc. etc etc. It's fun ;-))).

It turns out that Python can be put to good use with an iPod. Check out this site where a Pythonista has coded some cool python scripts for the iPod that automatically download all the baseball scores and statistics each day from the major leagues and stores them in the iPod's contacts lists! It's interesting and fun, and think of the other possibilities. I hope to try some scripts of my own soon.

Oh yeah, and I want to do my own podcasts soon, too ;-)))...

Python Liberation Front

This site is returning to its original name. Hooray! Maybe "Python Liberation Front" is not too controversial after all, wasn't Python named after a Monty Python???

Firedrop Mini-Docs

I see that Hans Nowak has posted an exciting new version of Firedrop. So, I want to post this link to a set of mini-docs explaining how to set up a beginning weblog site with Firedrop, so that even this clueless one could make it work ;-)))

Congratulations, Hans and thank you! I can't wait to get back home tomorrow and start using the new version's built-in spell checker plugin. Eventually, I hope to add a plugin or two of my own invention...

Podcasts, iPods, and Podcasting

I got an iPod yesterday, a 30G photo iPod. I like it. I am now immersed in podcasts, podcasting, and all things iPod. You will find a lot of links about using Python on an iPod on my Python for Mobile Devices page, and probably a lot more will be written here in my blog in coming days and weeks. I have a feeling I may be creating a podcast or two. Meanwhile, if you want to learn about podcasting, I highly recommend this start page Podcast411 which has given me a good start and which is run by a good friend of mine.

Python for Mobile Devices: Applications, Tools, and News

Python for Mobile Devices is the beginning of a section of this site dedicated to the coverage of Python software for mobile devices, including applications, developer tools, and news. For now, I am collecting and organizing links to the available applications and tools for as many mobile platforms as possible, which currently includes the Apple iPod, the Nokia Series 60 cell phone, the Palm PDA platform, Pocket PC (WinCE), and the Sharp Zaurus. You can expect the information on this site to grow rapidly because I am going to be putting some thought into writing mobile apps using Python and I am also about to take the plunge and buy my first iPod, now that I realize that the iPod is a Python hacker's delight ;-)))

Mind and Void

Try to think about, did the "world" or "universe' or "anything" always exist? It is hard to imagine something always existing, with no beginning.

But what would it be like for nothing to exist? What if no physical universe existed? What if no consciousness existed, even if a physical world did? How strange!

Now, really try to think deeply about this and understand emotionally what it would mean if nothing existed, not anything physical and not any consiousness or mind either.

My mind almost literally becomes discombobulated and faces an intractable wall of ...well, I don't know what. But nothing boggles my mind like this.

Python Cookbook 2'nd Edition

I have just received my copy. I plan to read this slowly and carefully over a long period of time, front to back, which is quite a challenge because it is 844 pages of deep material. But this book is worth such attention. Edited by Alex Martelli (and 2 others), this is a work of art.