[Python-Dev] [Idle-dev] Removing IDLE from the standard library; Scherer Agreement (original) (raw)

Kurt B. Kaiser kbk at shore.net
Tue Jul 13 03:34:30 CEST 2010

On Mon, Jul 12 2010, Bruce Sherwood wrote:

I don't recall that VIDLE has anything to do with running multiple IDLE copies.

Well, I stole the ephemeral port idea from him!

What's in VIDLE is a lot of bug fixes and some improvements. For example, you can configure it to not require having to save a file, which makes it as easy to use for quick testing as the shell. Another improvement, of high importance for our physics students and other novice programmers, is to bring an error display forward. Many students fill the screen with the edit window and the error message could be hidden, leaving them puzzled as to why their program wasn't running. Stuff like that, all aimed at issues we had seen with a large population of science and engineering students.

I'll say again that IDLE/VIDLE is an excellent environment for novices. Issues identified here about look and feel etc. have just not been of any importance in that context.

I'd like to get all that incorporated so you can go back to dealing directly with us. Your students are the people we want to reach!

If you'll send me what you want from Scherer, I can contact him.

I'm copying our PSF Secretary/Administrator, Pat Campbell. She can work with you to get David Scherer's Contributor Agreement. We really appreciate your assistance with this, he's one of the last missing agreements.

-- KBK

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