kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[DELIZY Florian <florian.delizy@...>]

_._,___

> I looked into the existing python support today. It did not seem
> complete, and unless I don't understand something, it was less than
> 15% complete.

Well, I didn't have time to submit it to svn sorry :)

> So I ask:
>
> 1) whether we want to support Python?

Yes, I am on it

> 2) if yes, should we consider using SWIG instead of Boost.Python?
>
> I think SWIG might be better for this project, because:
>
> A) wxPython is based on swig, and wxPython is part of the kicad to
> python solution. If SWIG is good enough for wxPyton, it would be good
> enough for KICAD-python.
Yes, but that's not a concern

> B) Boost.Python may be a bigger tool, but the build environment is
> overkill and probably harder to get working on both Windows and Linux.

Not true boost.python is multiplatform

> C) If we use, SWIG, we can get bindings to other languages besides
> Python, such as Java.

You'll still have to write code for that case


> D) The resultant SWIG binaries are easier to distribute if SWIG is
> used: they are smaller and there is distutil to install them into a
> python environment.

The resultant of boost is statically linked, and so is definitely 
faster/easier/smaller than SWIG


Plus :

- SWIG is a real pain to interface with
- SWIG makes use of its own build system
- You always have to re-build SWIG as part of your dev process
- SWIG uses a self language (not C++) to describe interface

and some more I forgot ...


> Scope of Work
> ------------
>
> -
>
> For the python support to be complete, we need to develop a bridge
> into the C++ classes BOARD, MODULE, and 12 or so other classes. After
> that, a person could use python to write import and export scripts,
> BOM scripts, and font size change scripts, and complete UI extensions.
>
> I am in favor of it, and could get it done, but I don't have the time
> to do it now, (if I were only retired, or funded...).
>
> Is the original developer of the python interface still around and
> interested and capable?

Right now working on it :)