[Python-Dev] xturtle.py - a replacement for turtle.py (original) (raw)

Gregor Lingl glingl at aon.at
Wed Jun 28 13:42:39 CEST 2006

xturtle.py, extended turtle graphics is a new Tkinter based turtle graphics module for Python

xturtle.py (Version 0.91) can be found at:

http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=5470&atid=305470 (Request ID 1513695, and 1513699 for the docs)

and at

http://ada.rg16.asn-wien.ac.at/~python/xturtle together with a set of example scripts and a demoViewer

xturtle was first announced at edu-sig and is reported to work properly on all major platforms (Mac, Linux and Windows) I propose to use it as a replacement for turtle.py

It was suggested to me to discuss it on this list. So I'll try that.

For now I'll give only two introductory statements and then wait for a response, hoping that a fruitful discussion will evolve.

(I) xturtle.py is a reimplementation of turtle.py, retaining its merits and is backward compatible to turtle.py. Enhancements over turtle.py are:

Better animation of the turtle movements, especially of turning the

turtle. So the turtles can more easily be used as a visual feedback instrument by the (beginning) programmer.

Different turtle shapes, gif-images as turtle shapes, user defined and

user controllable turtle shapes, among them compound (multicolored) shapes.

Fine control over turtle movement and screen updates via |delay()|,

and enhanced |tracer()| and |speed()|, |update()| methods.

Aliases for the most commonly used commands, like |fd| for |forward|

etc., following the early Logo traditions. This reduces the boring work of typing long sequences of commands, which often occur in a natural way when kids try to program fancy pictures on their first encounter with turtle graphcis (still not knowing loops).

Some simple commands/methods for creating event driven programs

(mouse-, key-, timer-events). Especially useful for programming simple games.

A scrollable Canvas class. The scrollable Canvas can be extended

interactively as needed while playing around with the turtle(s) (e. g. to follow some escaped turtle). # Commands for controlling background color or background image.

(II) Motives: My goal was to provide utmost easy access to a sufficiently rich graphics toolkit. I consider this of crucial importance for students and teachers who, e. g., have to decide which language to use for introductory programming courses. Moreover I consider turtle graphics as an excellent tool to visualize programming concept. So I already used the current turtle.py as a central tool in the first edition of my book "Python für Kids", despite of its apparent deficiencies.

Now I propose an alternative: xturtle.py. You will best understand my intentions by having a look at the 25+ demo scripts using the accompanying demoViewer, which are provided with turtle.zip at the above mentioned website. (I do not propose to include these into the standard distribution. Perhaps they could go into some special edudistro as Kirby Urner suggested lately)

I would appreciate it very much if xturtle.py could go into Python2.5. I'm ready to do the amendments, which may emerge as necessary from the dicussion here.

Regards, Gregor Lingl

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