you should check http://maemo.org/, especially http://maemo.org/development/documen...Start%20Guide/, http://maemo.org/development/documen..._tutorial.html and http://maemo.org/development/documentation/how-tos/4-x/.

For python scripting, there is tutorial for older os2007 http://maemo.org/development/documen...3.x_howto.html.

For simple python application you can check http://maemo.org/downloads/product/OS2008/quicknote (this app runs under standard linux as well, that is grat for testing)