At PyCon 2004, a BoF discussed ways to get grant money for Python development. The initial target of the funding requests will be for the development of a "Fat Python" distribution. This will take the form of a bootable CDROM. The application on the CD will cover a variety of educational topics, in addition to teaching introductory computer programming. We plan to develop a demo version of the CDROM in parallel with writing a grant request for funding.

This project is discussed on [http://starship.python.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/python-grants the python-grants list].

See also PythonEducationalDistribution by the Seattle Python Interest Group. They are creating a Windows CD. Also, the Python EduSig list has discussed using [http://www.morphix.org/modules/news/ Morphix] to create a bootable custom CD. I would encourage you to get in touch with both these groups.

Possible Contents

Here's a quick (incomplete and biased by my bookmark file) list of example things that might be included in the "Fat Python". Current thinking is to focus educational/scientific applications.

• Core Python distribution
• GUI toolkit bindings

  • PyGtk

  • WxPython

  • PyQt

  • Others?
• Scientific plotting applications
  • PyX
• Numeric Python extensions
• Image processing
  • ["PIL"]
  • PyAC # album creator
• Documentation
  • Python Docs

  • Free Python Books (IntroductoryBooks, AdvancedBooks?)

    • [http://www.network-theory.co.uk/python/manual/pytut.pdf An Introduction to Python] by GvR

    • [http://DiveIntoPython.org]

  • Tutorials and FAQ on PyGtk

  • John Miller's Thesis

Other Ideas

• Databases and adapters

  • [http://gadfly.sourceforge.net/ Gadfly]

  • [http://zope.org/Wikis/ZODB/FrontPage/ ZODB]

  • adapters for ["MySQL"], ["PostgreSQL"] (do we then have to include the database?)

    • It will not be any good IMHO if not provide out of the box compatibility with MS (SQL, IIS) -- MR

• Editors & GUI Builders

  • WxGlade

  • BoaConstructor

  • how about [http://die-offenbachs.de/detlev/eric3.html Eric3]?

• Web tools
  • PyXML
  • libxml2
  • other XML packages
  • ["Quixote"]

  • ["Zope"] (imho Plone will be better -- MR)

• PythonApplications (written in Python)

  • GuidovanRobot (GvRobot)

  • WorkforceConnections (courseware through a web interface.)

  • Chandler

  • PyGeo

  • PythonCard

  • Shtoom

  • PyGE http://pyge.sourceforge.net/

  • QuantLib (http://quantlib.sourceforge.net/)

There are some ready to go apps like

• library automation
• Plone based school setup

that may show something good out of the box. -- MikeRovner DateTime(2004-04-09T18:59:28Z)

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