visualpython-users

[Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

[Thomas S. <to...@fe...>]

Hi list,

is it possible to drop the polygon dependency somehow (or at least make
it optionally).

I just tried to package it for fedora and noticed the dependency to
gpc, which is non-free:
https://fedorahosted.org/fpc/ticket/74

When that can't be resolved by polygon upstream (and I bet it can't,
because they would be forced to rewrite the gpc library somehow),
vpython will never work on fedora, because polygon can't be imported...

Greetings,
   Thomas

Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

[Seth M. <sm...@ps...>]

I agree. Typically, whenever an RPM is installed with Yum, it automatically installs all necessary dependencies, or at least enough so that the program will run. When I install python-visual after a clean install, I need to manually install gtkglextmm-devel, libglademm24-devel, and fonttools through yum, then Polygon and TTFQuery through easy_install. At this point I can run vpython with no import errors.  Even then, if I want 3D fonts, I have to find and package the Microsoft fonts from source or I get the error "there's something wrong with the font times". 

It would be nice if the RPM listed the development libraries required as dependencies to that yum could install them automatically. Additionally, if there could be some sort of try:  except ImportError: around the Polygon and TTFQuery imports, or only attempt to import them when the 3D fonts are requested, with some sort of error message like "Polygon and TTFQuery modules are required for 3D rendering of text" of they are not found. 

The problem is, as Thomas points out, that Fedora requires that all packages be completely free and open source, so unless all dependencies meet that criteria vpython won't run as currently implemented, but with a few tweaks (the try statement I mentioned earlier) it could run without problem unless 3D fonts are required. A possibility might be to add a background routine to install Polygon and TTFQuery on first run with 3D fonts in a way that is hidden from the user, similar to what Sage-math does. 

Good luck!  I really enjoy vpython's simplicity. In fact, we are going to use it this summer to teach middle schoolers the basics of programming and science in a way that gives immediate feedback. The biggest problem I have is installation on linux (it's a breeze on Mac), though that's probably only a small population of the users, so I understand the slower development. 

Seth Morton

On Mar 21, 2011, at 4:58 PM, Thomas Spura <to...@fe...> wrote:

> Hi list,
> 
> is it possible to drop the polygon dependency somehow (or at least make
> it optionally).
> 
> I just tried to package it for fedora and noticed the dependency to
> gpc, which is non-free:
> https://fedorahosted.org/fpc/ticket/74
> 
> When that can't be resolved by polygon upstream (and I bet it can't,
> because they would be forced to rewrite the gpc library somehow),
> vpython will never work on fedora, because polygon can't be imported...
> 
> Greetings,
>   Thomas
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

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

Installation on Linux is easy if there is a package in the package
manager, as is the case for example on Ubuntu. One problem is that at
least on Ubuntu (the only flavor of Linux with which I have
significant experience) the python-visual package tends to be quite
far out of date, though that hardly matters for a beginners' course.
Another problem is that apparently for many Linux distributions no one
has created an official package, and if you have to build from source
you need strong computer skills.

Bruce Sherwood

On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 3:38 PM, Seth Morton <sm...@ps...> wrote:
> Good luck!  I really enjoy vpython's simplicity. In fact, we are going to use it this summer to teach middle schoolers the basics of programming and science in a way that gives immediate feedback. The biggest problem I have is installation on linux (it's a breeze on Mac), though that's probably only a small population of the users, so I understand the slower development.
>
> Seth Morton

Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

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

My mistake, as I had intended that the recent releases in fact make
Polygon and ttfquery optional (in which case extrusion and text
objects are not available). The mistake is that the start of
vis/shapes.py should look like this:

from math import pi, cos, sin, sqrt, tan, atan, acos
try:
    from Polygon import Polygon
    from Polygon.Shapes import Star
    from ttfquery import describe, glyphquery, glyph
except:
    pass
import vis

import os, sys, glob

(vis/primitives.py already checks for Polygon and ttfquery
availability and issues an appropriate warning.)

The corrected shapes.py is now in CVS.

You've probably seen this, but on the download pages at vpython.org
you'll find this:

In support of the 3D text and extrusion objects, you will need to
install the font-handling modules FontTools, ttfquery (version 1.0.4
or later), and Polygon (all available from pypi.python.org), for which
the following conditions apply: "Polygon is being distributed subject
to the following conditions: This distribution contains code from the
GPC Library, and/or code resulting from the use of the GPC Library.
This usage has been authorized by The University of Manchester, on the
understanding that the GPC-related features are used only in the
context of this distribution. It is not permitted to extract the GPC
code from the distribution as the basis for commercial exploitation,
unless a GPC Commercial Use Licence is obtained from The University of
Manchester, contact: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~toby/gpc/".

Bruce Sherwood

On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 2:58 PM, Thomas Spura <to...@fe...> wrote:
> Hi list,
>
> is it possible to drop the polygon dependency somehow (or at least make
> it optionally).
>
> I just tried to package it for fedora and noticed the dependency to
> gpc, which is non-free:
> https://fedorahosted.org/fpc/ticket/74
>
> When that can't be resolved by polygon upstream (and I bet it can't,
> because they would be forced to rewrite the gpc library somehow),
> vpython will never work on fedora, because polygon can't be imported...
>
> Greetings,
>   Thomas
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Enable your software for Intel(R) Active Management Technology to meet the
> growing manageability and security demands of your customers. Businesses
> are taking advantage of Intel(R) vPro (TM) technology - will your software
> be a part of the solution? Download the Intel(R) Manageability Checker
> today! http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-dev2devmar
> _______________________________________________
> Visualpython-users mailing list
> Vis...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/visualpython-users
>

Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

[Thomas S. <to...@fe...>]

On Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:46:53 -0600
Bruce Sherwood wrote:

> My mistake, as I had intended that the recent releases in fact make
> Polygon and ttfquery optional (in which case extrusion and text
> objects are not available). The mistake is that the start of
> vis/shapes.py should look like this:
> 
> from math import pi, cos, sin, sqrt, tan, atan, acos
> try:
>     from Polygon import Polygon
>     from Polygon.Shapes import Star
>     from ttfquery import describe, glyphquery, glyph
> except:
>     pass
> import vis
> 
> import os, sys, glob
> 
> (vis/primitives.py already checks for Polygon and ttfquery
> availability and issues an appropriate warning.)
> 
> The corrected shapes.py is now in CVS.


Thanks a lot... Then the next version will be usable in fedora again. :)

	Thomas

[Visualpython-users] Fedora

[Peter B. <p.h...@bh...>]

when visualpython-users are sending a message relevant only to a subject specific subgroup such as fedora, it would save the rest of us time if this were to be shown clearly in the message subject

Peter
P H Borcherds
________________________________
From: Thomas Spura [to...@fe...]
Sent: 21 March 2011 22:11
To: Bru...@nc...
Cc: vis...@li...
Subject: Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency

On Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:46:53 -0600
Bruce Sherwood wrote:

> My mistake, as I had intended that the recent releases in fact make
> Polygon and ttfquery optional (in which case extrusion and text
> objects are not available). The mistake is that the start of
> vis/shapes.py should look like this:
>
> from math import pi, cos, sin, sqrt, tan, atan, acos
> try:
>     from Polygon import Polygon
>     from Polygon.Shapes import Star
>     from ttfquery import describe, glyphquery, glyph
> except:
>     pass
> import vis
>
> import os, sys, glob
>
> (vis/primitives.py already checks for Polygon and ttfquery
> availability and issues an appropriate warning.)
>
> The corrected shapes.py is now in CVS.


Thanks a lot... Then the next version will be usable in fedora again. :)

        Thomas

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growing manageability and security demands of your customers. Businesses
are taking advantage of Intel(R) vPro (TM) technology - will your software
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today! http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-dev2devmar
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Re: [Visualpython-users] Fedora

[Thomas S. <to...@fe...>]

On Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:44:09 +0000
Peter Borcherds wrote:

> when visualpython-users are sending a message relevant only to a
> subject specific subgroup such as fedora, it would save the rest of
> us time if this were to be shown clearly in the message subject
> 
> Peter
> P H Borcherds
> ________________________________
> From: Thomas Spura [to...@fe...]
> Sent: 21 March 2011 22:11
> To: Bru...@nc...
> Cc: vis...@li...
> Subject: Re: [Visualpython-users] polygon dependency
> 
> On Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:46:53 -0600
> Bruce Sherwood wrote:
> 
> > My mistake, as I had intended that the recent releases in fact make
> > Polygon and ttfquery optional (in which case extrusion and text
> > objects are not available). The mistake is that the start of
> > vis/shapes.py should look like this:
> >
> > from math import pi, cos, sin, sqrt, tan, atan, acos
> > try:
> >     from Polygon import Polygon
> >     from Polygon.Shapes import Star
> >     from ttfquery import describe, glyphquery, glyph
> > except:
> >     pass
> > import vis
> >
> > import os, sys, glob
> >
> > (vis/primitives.py already checks for Polygon and ttfquery
> > availability and issues an appropriate warning.)
> >
> > The corrected shapes.py is now in CVS.
> 
> 
> Thanks a lot... Then the next version will be usable in fedora
> again. :)
> 
>         Thomas

The polygon dependency is nasty on all free (as in freedom) operation
systems. A subject like "freeos: polygon dependency" doesn't make any
sense.

	Thomas