Programming with Python
I’ve always had an interest in programming. I started with PHP, because prior to that I had learnt HTML. Also this was back in ‘the Windows days’ so I would upload my work to a free web host without the effort of having to download and install a program to compile and then run my code. Of course finding a decent free webhost was never easy!
Anyway, PHP (with MySQL as a database) is great for developing websites. However it is not widly used for developing desktop applications – and thats what I decided I wanted to have a go at.
Enter Python. It does not require compiling (similar to PHP); allows for object orientated programming (something I hear is the future); has an unusual clean syntax {no more curly braces} and seems to be very popular for linux desktop programming.
So, I installed it (aptitude install python – although you’ll probably find it’s installed already on your machine).
The best thing I’ve found about it, is that you are able to use the libraries available for it. In particular PyGTK (for Gnome/GTK style programs) and GStreamer (for sound output – as used by Rhythmbox, Banshee, Totem, etc).
So to help me learn python I’m creating a media player. I have some ideas which are rather different to the current media players available, so watch out! Currently it does very little (I mean practically nothing), but it’s being a great learning experience for me. Perhaps I’ll even post a few tutorials here!
Checking in :p
Your project sounds interesting.
I just got into ruby (my first programming language) buy it’s going to take me a while to master as I can only play with it a few hours a week.
What kind of audio player are you looking at creating?
A lightweight one?
[i]Since the decline of xmms ( audacious just isn’t the same) I’m having a hard time finding a decent lightweight one. [/i]
I’m going to bookmark your site as I would like to see how this turns out.
Also, will you plan on releasing it once it’s finished?
linuxowns
September 8, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Thanks for your interest!
Well the plan is for something in the middle. I hope that a basic configuration will be as simple as xmms/audacious but it will also be possible to have all the major features of players such as rhythmbox, banshee, amarok, etc.
I’ll make the code available on Launchpad, but this is all rather ambitious for my first python project, so don’t hold your breath, at least not for a few months yet.
fluteflute
September 9, 2008 at 6:51 am
[...] a comment » A month or so ago I started a music player project. It didn’t take me long to hit a rather major stumbling point. And that was the end of the [...]
Python is Easy but Programming is Hard « Greg Auger • fluteflute
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