Re: [Visualpython-users] OS X Native

[Dethe E. <de...@li...>]

On 24-Jun-05, at 12:06 PM, Bruce Sherwood wrote:

> What you want is vpython; vpython-core2 is the experimental work  
> Jonathan Brandmeyer is doing to add transparency, surface textures,  
> and sophisticated lighting.

Well, that's both useful (work in vpython) and great news (textures  
and transparency are my two highest wishlist items for VPython).   
Thanks!

> I made an uninformed and unsuccessful attempt to compile the boost  
> libraries (www.boost.org) on OSX 10.4. First I tried using the gcc  
> that comes with, and that didn't work, complaining about something  
> having to do with "shared" (libraries). Jonathan had mentioned that  
> the gcc 4.0.0 that comes with 10.4 was grabbed from the GNU people  
> when it was still very unstable, so I tried installing from  
> gcc.gnu.org. There is a recent 4.0.0 there, but to avoid confusion  
> I tried installing (bootstrap install) of gcc 3.4.4, with the  
> parameters specified in vpython/INSTALL.txt, which unfortunately  
> failed in a way meaningless to me. So I didn't get very far just  
> trying to get an X11 version compiled for 10.4.

I'm working on getting Boost to compile right now.  I'll let you know  
if I succeed.

> I will say that installing the old VPython on 10.4 using fink is  
> actually quite painless now, thanks to the packaging done by Martin  
> Costabel. And you can easily install X11 and Xcode from the 10.4  
> DVD. Building a native-mode Mac VPython would be a wonderful  
> contribution, but certainly vastly more difficult than merely  
> installing the old pre-boost VPython.

I realize that it's easier, but I don't want Fink on my system.  Too  
many problems last time I did that.  Also, while I have X11 installed  
(just in case), I really prefer not to use it--and don't see why I  
should for an OpenGL-based program when OS X has great OpenGL support.

So I'll tilt at the windmill and see who wins.  %-)

--Dethe

This past week, everyday when I opened my Wall Street Journal, I was  
met with a full page ad from Microsoft. This ad was dominated by  
three simple words "Protect your PC." This strikes me as something  
akin to the Saudi government running ads in the New York Times in mid- 
September of 2001 saying "Protect your Tall Buildings." --Russ McGuire