More mobile Python options

February 06, 2006

As a Palm-wielding Python guy, I took news of the Python port for the iPod as another cruel slap. I use Pippy, but being Python 1.5.2 it’s pretty limited. The increased power (and screen real estate) of the TX over previous Palms I’ve had has made me more desirous of having an actual programming environment. There are ports for Zaurus, EPOC, and Nokia Series 60 phones (which I mentioned last summer). It’s sinking in that things aren’t likely to change until the faraway Linux-based PalmOS arrives.

Time to start looking for a used Zaurus 5500 on Ebay…

Update: I was incredibly heartened to later come across this handhelds.org page which led me to this page of screenshots. Sweet! True, the screenshot does show a kernel panic, but you’ve got to kernel panic before you can run, as the saying goes.

Kevin Dahlhausen commented on Tue Feb 7 14:05:07 2006:

That’s great news. I’ve been a little depressed over what appears to be a slowing down of palm development ( let alone python on the palm). Progect and PDesk, the latter written in python, are two palm-related applications I use almost every day.

Winchell Chung commented on Tue Feb 7 14:10:12 2006:

Nokia just came out with a Linux based PDA-like gadget called the Nokia 770. Python has been ported to this device. The big selling point is the screen is an amazing 800 x 480 resolution.

http://www.nokiausa.com/770 http://pymaemo.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/moin.cgi/

Mike commented on Tue Feb 7 16:39:01 2006:

I have to say I recently bought a Sharp Zaurus SL C-3100 so I could fill my “python on a PDA” need. I put python-2.4.2, tcl/tk, tkinter, numarray, and matplotlib on it. Pricey, but quite a nice pocket workstation!

Paul commented on Tue Feb 7 17:39:36 2006:

Excellent, thanks for the comments. From the little I know about the Nokia and the Zaurus, if money were no object I’d go for either one. I imagine at some point falling prices and rising desire will intersect.

Jeff commented on Wed Feb 8 22:56:31 2006:

Python 2.4 on a Nokia770 is goodness

http://www.teemuharju.net/2006/01/26/coding-for-nokia-770-using-python-part-1/