I'm attempting to elevate my skills from "can't code my way out of a wet paper bag" by learning Python. I've programmed before in fortran, pascal, and assembly, but that was decades ago...

I'm using Downey's book Think Python - How to think like a computer scientist which is very helpful, but I need Tcl/tk and Tkinter installed to follow his examples. Since my N810 is with me all the time, I figured it would be handy to learn/code/debug on this device when I have the few spare cycles, but it seems from searching that the Maemo version of Python has these features stripped out of it.

I was wondering if it would be possible for me to add in the Tcl/tk and Tkinter functionality or do a recompile so I can get it working on my N810? Or would I simply be just descending deep down into dependency hell and should instead use a functional PC as time permits, finish the lessons in Downey's book, then move on to learning pyqt or pyside implementations?

It's a python book that needs tcl?

GET A NEW BOOK. Seriously.

For what it's worth, I'd recommend not touching TCL in any way shape or form. Coding can be a bit of a hill, sure, but you'll get there in the long run, and python is syntactically a fairly easy language to get a handle on.

PyQt is also a great set of stuff to play with, and results are easy to come by. It's a bit intimidating to start with, but there are plenty of resources on the net about both python and Qt.

I've always been a fan of teaching myself things. Learning by experimentation isn't for everyone, but it's certainly a valid method of learning, and learning to teach yourself things means you don't get stuck anywhere near as easily.

I'd also be more than happy to mentor you a bit about either myself if you want on IRC. I'm on freenode (#maemo, #mer and everywhere else) as w00t.

This is one of the most useless thing to think of learning it.
Try this: http://www.diveintopython.org/
for pyqt:
http://www.cs.usfca.edu/~afedosov/qttut/
http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/stories/BBS47.html
http://qt.nokia.com/doc/qtopia2.2/ht...art1index.html
http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~brosz...ner/index.html

Do you mean useful?

I would also consider learning how to properly engineer software rather than just learning to program (write code). There's a very large distinction, and it's better to learn good design habits early than have to reshape patterns later.

}:^)~

No useless

Unfortunately many mathematics/engineering type apps are blessed with a Tcl/Tk GUI.

I would be tempted to learn the appropriate GTK+ stuff, and substitute, or just stick to the command line like real (mechanical) engineers do!

Thanks for the feedback, but I think I need to clarify further...

I have next to zero experience with OOP and zippo with any GUI development (my only software development has been in the CLI). I've got to be able to walk before I can run!

I have multiple Python books that I started to read, but the one I listed in my original post is so far the easiest for me to get started with.

@f(x), thank you for the links, but the very first line about the book is "Dive Into Python is a Python book for experienced programmers.". The other links are well beyond my current skills.

As a introduction learning exercise of a GUI development, is Tcl/tk really that flawed?
Yes, of course I want to move on to using Qt as that's my end goal. I already have several utilities I want to create to run on my future N900.

Regarding my original question, it sounds like a resounding NO to attempting to install Tcl/tk onto a N810, correct?

@Capt'n: That makes perfect sense. Can you point me in the right direction to read more?

Cheers!

The first link was going to speed your learning process.
I was on rush to post and go, so I forget the most important thing that 99% of tutorials/guides or even books forget to mention it.
It is a language reference (For lang & Libs/API)
You can get it from here: http://www.python.org/doc/

Try also these links (See which of them fits you more):
http://www.poromenos.org/tutorials/python (Learn python in 10min then after that try few examples/write something basic -> jump to -> Dive into basic [The same goes for below links too])
http://pytut.infogami.com/
http://www.sthurlow.com/python/ (This is too much basic [looks easy to understand])

About the GUI part, trust me you will never use Tkinter and don't even bother yourself to learn it because you will be wasting your time. As I said go with Qt or GTK from the beginning. Both of them providing you tools to design your user interface with easy programs (Qt Designer & Glade).
Just check this out, http://www.cs.usfca.edu/~afedosov/qttut/ (So many pictures here , probably it will be easy for you)

About your skills, don't judge before you try reading them (2~3 pages before deciding)

That's it

Good luck with python