Python is just as powerful as vb6 or c++, and is free and extremely easy to learn. However, creating gui apps in vb6 is MUCH easier than it is in python, but python is a multi-platform support language, which means it can be used on mac, linux even unix as well as windows.
To start, you'll need to download ActiveState ActivePython 2.4 which is a gui python ide compiler, allowing you to run your scripts as you make them. You'll also need python itself, as the ide doesnt come with the interperater itself.
Install python then activepython, and run activepython.
You'll see a interactive window, Do not close this. As it is your ide based command line, everything your script will do will output into this window.
Click the page button up under the file menu. Choose python script and you'll see another blank window. This is your empty script.
First of all, your going to need to learn how to comment things. Python doesnt have end subs or void.close like vb6, java and the c series have, its all based on indentation. To indent something, you si'mply press the tab key, and press backspace to end it.
To comment something, you go: #Commentbase here or """ comment here """.
Comment the first two lines of your script as Basic Refesher and a line of equals =.
You aint going to know any of the syntax. So thats why I'm here.
The program we will be making today is stated below, both in source and in explanation, You wont understand any of what it does unless you read both the source and the explanation.
#Basic Refresher Script - By Your Name Here #========================================== I'mport urllib #urlib is the python equivilant to webbrowser/inet/winsock or c series IO stream def PageGet(url): #this is defining a function, this function must be declared at the top or bottom, CODE GOES INBETWEEN pData = urllib.urlopen(url).read() return pData #you noticed how this isnt indented? this is how python works. indenting a function #or if command starts it and ends it. yData = raw_input("What is the URL you wish to refresh?") #this is a raw input, which creates a window asking for input. y2Data = input("How many ti'mes do you wish to refresh the page? numerical values only") #See anything different? Raw input allows ascii, but input only allows numerical values. Ti'mesRefreshed = 0 #we are now going to begin the refreshing progress. Ti'mesRefeshed = Ti'mesRefreshed + 1 PageGet(yData) #capitalasion is I'mportant. print "Refeshed",Ti'mesRefreshed,"ti'me/s"
The comments mostly explain it.
pData = urllib.urlopen(url).read() = this will ask for a url and read it, this can be used to grab the source of a page easily.
y2Data = input("How many ti'mes do you wish to refresh the page? numerical values only") = this is a input. numerical values only will be added to the string. raw_input is for ascii.
If you wish to learn more about this, and how to make GUI apps in python, google the web for python gui tutorials or python tkinter tutorials.
~Ariadene
This tutorial is only to be used on www.neocodex.us, and www.darkerbyte.tk.