Re: [Boa Constr] first impressions of Boa 0.1.0

[Riaan B. <riaan@e.co.za>]

Hello Hans-Peter,

Hans-Peter Jansen wrote:
> 
> [I'm not subscribed to wx-dev, please CC me from there]
> 
> Hi Riaan,
> 
> first thing, I wanna say: Incredible, Riaan!

Thanks!

> 
> Last time, I checked Boa a year ago, it was too flaky, but the current
> version is a great leap towards a tool for getting real work done.
> 
> I'm running it with python 2.1/wxGTK 2.3.2/wxPython 2.3.2.1 on linux
> 2.4.18-pre4, SuSE 7.3 based diskless workstation.
> 
> For the record:
> I had to manually fiddle with
> 
> export CFLAGS="-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -DHAVE_LARGEFILE_SUPPORT $CFLAGS"
> export CXXFLAGS=$CFLAGS
> 
> to get wxGTK and wxPython successfully build (wxGTK configure flaw, AFAICS).
> 
> Now I was able to run boa.
> 
> Next, I configured boa to my needs. I discovered, that boa uses DOS
> linebreaks :-( Fortunately I found the autoReindent option, which fixed
> this for me :-)

I plan to address this with the next release.

> To fulfil my basic basic code form needs, I would like to see an option
> to use tabs for indention. I found some corresponding STC options, but
> they don't affect code generation and lead to indention errors, when
> activated  :-(

I'll look into this.

> 
> Some random findings:
>  - X clipboard doesn't work in the editor (at least). :-(((

I use wxPython's wxClipboard, it works for me. Did you try from 
the right-click menu in the Designer, or did you try some special 
keystroke?

>  - when editing a string in Designer->Inspector, <Return> doesn't stop that,
>    and posting will loose it's modified content. I need to select another prop
>    to get the former prop modified.

<Return> is supposed to post, but I'm still having problems with
wxAcceleratorTable under wxGTK :(

>  - Setting font properties in Designer works as expected, but font face gets
>    lost on runtime.

Does the generated source dissapear, or does it not have an effect at 
runtime?

>  - posting buttons doesn't allways work. Closing frame helps.

How do you post a button?
Only the whole session is posted or canceled.

>  - grayout (aka. blueout) results in ramdom char coloring (looks very strange)

This should be off by default on wxGTK.

>  - Modifying MajorDimension in RadioBoxes results in crash on post.

I'll look into it.

>  - Setting wxRA_SPECIFY_ROWS on them is ignored.

Remember when setting constructor properties, the control (or the Frame)
have to be recreated before the changes take effect (as constructors
are only called at creation)

> 
> Some future thoughts:
>  - STC background coloring of 'danger' and 'good' zones (It took me a couple
>    of times to find the proper place where self.timer1.Start(500) didn't get
>    lost after designer sessions)

This is noted in a few place in the help files, please read thru them.
Quick rule: Leave _init_* methods alone!

>  - Real i18n support

Yip, I am planning some, for now see Examples/il8n.py

>  - Some grid helpers (generic database interface)
> 
> Last thing points you in the direction, I have to go now for my next project,
> and I'm willing to give boa a try for that.
> 
> I would love to see the boa CVS activity rising.

Don't worry it's usually not this quiet, hopefully I'll get round to
updating CVS this week, after that fixes and changes should go in 
regularly.

> 
> Cheers,
>   Hans-Peter
> 
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-- 
Riaan Booysen
___________________________________________________
Boa Constructor - RAD GUI building IDE for wxPython
     http://boa-constructor.sourceforge.net