A Good Python IDE

    In my last post (well… it was my first), I talked about Python programming language and how good and powerful it is … in this post I am going to talk about something very important, which is choosing a good IDE (Integrated Development Environment ).

    Some people argue that going simple is always the best way, like using a simple text editor would do the job , these people may have a point but trust me ; going this way can be very VERY messy !

    I have tested some  IDEs that claim to be the best when It comes to Python support , but I liked one in particular and it was (believe it or not) Netbeans IDE.

Netbeans is a well-known Java IDE, but I was surprised to find a cool plug-in that would allow it to extend its reach to Python.

The main reason i liked it, is its features that will make programming in Python even an easier job:

•  Code completion: This is the first thing I look for in any IDE that I come across; imagine using a certain class with many methods inside , don’t you just love it when that small menu drops down showing all the methods and data members inside, Instead of having to check the methods list of that class every time you have to call a certain one? This is the main reason I chose Netbeans over the other IDEs that didn’t have this feature.
     
• Smart indent, and pair matching: this is an important feature also, because Python uses indentation to separate code blocks from each other . if you use a simple text editor , there is a great chance that you will have an indent error , but this feature takes care of indentation for you, making it bullet proof.

• Code folding: when developing at a large scale it is very important to easily navigate between multiple fragments of your code, trust me this is a nasty experience if you have to scroll down 700+ lines of code in order to get to a certain code block that you need to work on.
     
•  Instant Rename: now Imagine that you had to change some function’s name ,however this function was called like 50 times in you project , this feature saves you time as it allows you to change the name of the function and all its calls simultaneously without having to go through your code and change them one by one !
     

Now for those of you who want to jump start coding…here’s what you need:

    You can either download Python EA as a standalone IDE , or  as a plug-in from the plug-in manager -if you have Netbeans 6.5 –or above preinstalled on your machine-

check the Netbeans website to get the latest version and install it!

Happy Coding !

Technorati Tags: python,netbeans,ide

CTIA 2010 Wrap-Up

Yesterday was the last day for the CTIA WIRELESS 2010® in Las Vegas, the president of the CTIA took the stage at the start of the day, he first reviewed previous days keynote stage speakers, he then went to discuss with Avatar’s director James Cameron and Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone, how mobile technology is transforming business, media, entertainment and the economy. The discussion was very interesting, make sure to check out the summary.

Now before we say goodbye to the CTIA 2010, I leave you with the two things that stood out in the show this year.

1. The HTC EVO 4G, the true iPhone killer at last has come. Where do i start when talking about this thing…maybe I'd start by saying it has 4G support, yes you read it right; it’s the first mobile to be equipped with this super fast data connection, and it’s going to be provided by Sprint’s WiMAX network. The 4G support will mean that you can share and stream live videos from your mobile on the go, and enjoy high download rates. Other features are also super augmented, like the 4.3 inches TFT touch screen, the 1 GHZ Snapdragon processor, the 512MB of RAM, and the 8 megapixel camera. The operating system on the phone is the Android which is enhanced by HTC’s own intuitive UI called Sense. The Phone will be available in the summer, for the sprint network only.
   
2. Well, if you read the first point, you’ll probably figure out the second thing that stood out this year, it is the 4G connection. I am not going to bore you with the technicalities, but here’s what you need to know:

• Most of today’s 3G networks offer up to 14 Mbps in download and 5.8 in upload, although in mobile and real life this is reduced.
• 4G is the fourth generation of cellular network standards and the successor of today’s 3G
• 4G means higher bandwidth:uploading and downloading. This means you can download big files wirelessly and upload live videos from a camera on the go. proposed data speeds can reach over 100 Mbps (and i am being conservative)
• 4G is still a work in progress, with very few network providers implementing it in select places only.
• There are currently two technologies that back the 4G transmission, the 802.16m, a.k.a WiMax, and the LTE Advanced.

One thing that bothers me about today's post is that we are still lagging in the 3G support here in Palestine. I have a 3G mobile phone that I only use for 2G communication, what’s the point? It’s really frustrating that the occupation has gone as far as to limit wireless frequencies and freedom!

Technorati Tags: CTIA,Mobile,HTC,4G

Tired Of Your Old Mobile?

Are you one of us who are simply tired of our old rusty mobile, all the other people have touch screen/full qwerty phones? Well, i think we just might be lucky, because in 4-5 months all their phones will be obsolete. Yeah that’s right, because the Samsung Galaxy S Android is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2010!

In its exhibition at the “International CTIA WIRELESS 2010® conference” Samsung has announced it new Flagship Android base mobile. It boasts a jaw dropping array of features:

• 4 inch super AMOLED capacitive display ( super AMOLED means that it’s the thinnest & most crisp display available at the market today, while capacitive means it responds to the slightest touch of fingers).
• 5 megapixel camera with HD video capture.
• Anroid 2.1 operating system (The newest version).
• A whopping 1 GHZ Processor (For making your life faster).
• Uses Smart Life interface from Samsung (The first phone to ever do so).
• Native GPS & 3D maps (so you never get lost)
• Other ( rather standard ) features are : Wi-Fi & 3G connectivity, tilt sensors, streamlined connectivity to social sites (like Facebook & Twitter) and much more

Well, if these features haven’t got you’re mouth to water, then i simply don’t know what will...

Now here’s the obvious down side; while the price isn’t announced yet, I predict that you’re going to have to dig deep in your pocket to own this beauty…

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Stay Tuned for more news from the International CTIA WIRELESS 2010® conference.

Technorati Tags: samsung,galaxy + s,CTIA,wireless,mobile

Python Programming Language

Ever since I learned programming in the 8th grade (that is if visual basic counts as coding) I have built the impression that real programming had to be complex and hard, because a computer is stupid and it has to be fed with every bit of information needed to operate properly. But since I started working in Python this idea was completely changed.

The first time Python caught my eye was on one of the Ubuntu forums when I was looking for a way to get java working properly on my Linux machine. I noticed some guys talking about python and how good it is, I started searching ,and minutes later (I know this may sound geeky) I got hooked.

And this is why:

• Python concentrates on the productivity of the programmer, unlike other programming languages which tend to hold the programmer back sometimes. For example a certain algorithm that took multiple classes in java , can be performed in a little number of lines of python .
• Python is object oriented and this is something I was familiar with from programming in java
• Python runs on almost every machine out there; whether it is a mobile or a computer or even a robot, and whether it runs Linux, Windows, or Mac.
• Python is Free. Yupi!
• Python has a very large support community on the net, and this really surprised me. There are lots and lots of tutorials and forums where you can find solutions to any problem you come across.
• Python is shipped with most of the Linux Distros ; Like Ubuntu, Fedora and many others.
• You can link python programs to other libraries and even other pieces of code from another programming language like java, C and C++.
• You can find lots of python libraries that perform various tasks like: Science, Engineering, graphics, communication and gaming, most of which are free…

It is really easy to get started with Python especially if you have a programming background, but it is absolutely ok if you don’t have any experience at all! The first thing you need to is download the Python interpreter, you can do this here , and the package you download is about 15 Mb and includes:

• The python interpreter ;the most important of them all.
• Library documentation for Python's standard library.
• A very good tutorial to get you started from the ground up.

Happy coding…

Our First Ever Post

Hey future readers of our blog,

Welcome to our blog, this is our very first post so be nice… Now it’s only normal that we introduce ourselves, we’re two guys who are crazy about technology to the point of *coughs* obsession. We’re both 2nd year computer engineering students @ Birzeit University, Palestine. The idea of the blog came to us separately and when we told each other our ideas, BOOM there it was in about 2 hours, this very page you're reading was created…

Now about our blog…We’re thinking of making this blog our stage to share our thoughts on the latest technology issues, hardware, software and trends, in addition to that we’re gonna put up some useful/interesting sections, like the latest tech news and useful resources/links like programming tutorials, websites among other things…

Anyways, since a blog isn’t a blog if no-one reads it, we are asking you for your support and comments, comments, comments… tell us what you think, what you want us to write about, tell us anything that’s on your mind…

Thanks for reading and we hope we didn’t bore you with the lengthy introduction.