[Visualpython-users] VPython 5.1 for Mac

[Bruce S. <Bru...@nc...>]

Now available: Visual 5.1 for Python 2.5 for Mac (Intel and PowerPC). 
There doesn't seem to be a version of numpy for Mac Python 2.6 yet, 
which is needed by VPython. Work is proceeding on packaging 5.1 for 
Linux; the requisite files are in CVS.

In the process of implementing right-button and middle-button mouse 
events, similar to what was available for Visual 3, David Scherer and I 
have run into some issues that concern us.

VPython 5.1 provides the basic mouse event functionality that was 
present in Visual 3 for handling events from right and middle buttons 
when userspin or userzoom is disabled, because we have been concerned 
about supporting old programs. However, we have become aware that there 
are limitations in this approach which could preclude some kinds of 
mouse handling that people might want to do in the future. For example, 
you might want to allow userspin with right drags yet also pick up right 
clicks. For that reason it is conceivable that future developments in 
this area might break existing programs, and therefore for maximum 
forward compatibility it is prudent to use only left-button interactions 
in new programs.

Bruce Sherwood