FEATURES
Extending Python
by John Berninger
So you need to do something in Python, but all you have available is a C library API to deal with the actual data? Not to worry—Python can easily be extended to work with that API. Just goes to show you, sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Working with IMAP and iCalendar
by Doug Hellman
How can you access group calendar information if your Exchange-like mail and calendaring server does not provide iCalendar feeds, and you do not, or cannot, use Outlook? Use Python to extract the calendar data and generate your own feed, of course! This article discusses a surprisingly simple program to perform what seems like a complex series of operations: scanning IMAP folders, extracting iCalendar attachments, and merging the contained events together into a single calendar.
Processing Web Forms Using Anonymous Functions & WSGI
by Kevin Ryan
If you're a web developer, you're well aware of the importance of forms in web development. This article demonstrates how to use anonymous functions (commonly known as "lambda" functions) to assist in the creation of SQL statements based on the values received from web forms in the context of a WSGI compliant framework or component.
Creating custom PyGTK widgets with Cairo
by Sayamindu Dasgupta
PyGTK, a set of Python bindings for the popular GTK+ graphical toolkit, provides a rich collection of commonly used windows, dialog boxes, buttons, layout elements, and other 'widgets'. However, often a programmer has needs which go beyond the functionality provided by the built-in widgets in PyGTK. This article explains how to create new widgets using the Python bindings for Cairo—the vector graphics library used by GTK+ to perform most of its drawing operations.
COLUMNS
Welcome to Python Magazine!
by Brian Jones
An introduction to PyMag from our Editor in Chief.
The GIL Debacle
by Doug Hellman
Has your multi-threaded application grown GILs? Take a look at these packages for easy-to-use process management and interprocess communication tools.
Elegant XML parsing using the ElementTree Module
by Mark Mruss
XML is everywhere.Fortunately, Python developers have a new tool in their standard arsenal to deal with: the ElementTree module. Read all about it in this month's Welcome to Python.
The Python Community
by Steve Holden
A look at the Python community, its evolution and its future.