AmigaOS 4.0 to include Python?

[bhoggett]

According to Irmen de Jong, the AmigaPython website maintainer, the Python programming language may be included as standard with AmigaOS 4.0.

From the AmigaPython site:

"UPDATE november 2002: from very reliable sources I know that AmigaPython might become part of the new Amiga OS 4.0 ! What AREXX was for AmigaDOS 2.x and 3.x, AmigaPython might be for the next generation of Amiga OS (and much more powerful of course)"

Further information about Python is available at the Python Home Page.

[bhoggett]

@Oli_hd

I hope they dont get rid of AREXX (I bet they wont) as I use that and can sort of program in it (load a program, print text, erm,, thats about it)..

I don't think they'll get rid of ARexx, but the question has to be:

(a) can they re-write it (PRexx?) as PPC native, and give it the chance to evolve beyond what it currently offers?

(b) does it make sense to stay with a relatively obscure scripting solution as default?

(c) will the SHEEP ever produce any wool? :-P

I think the best suggestion was made on ANN: provide low-level scripting hooks, which can then be accessed by modules from Perl/Python etc. That way, there is a choice of scripting languages allowing the user/programmer to choose the one best suited for the task at hand.

ARexx is dead.  :-o

[bhoggett]

@blobrana

And i`m sure that a module will be made ,that will support AREXX from within python ( whoops, was i the only one to spot that?

No. ;-)

AFAIK, the current (discontinued) port of Python to Amiga does support ARexx. I see no reason why this can't be done as an extension module for use with legacy apps.

[bhoggett]

OK, here's what Thomas Frieden had to say about it on the AmigaOS4 mailing list (*).

"We have actively thought about adopting Python, but there are no firm plans yet. We need to find a substitute for ARexx in the long run, and Python came up as an option,"

In a separate post by a different member of the Hyperion team it emerges that PRexx appears to no longer be an option. The advantages of Python over Perl and PHP  IN THIS CONTEXT are also discussed.

(*) Posted with Thomas' permission.