Python Command Line and IDLE

[m4rk]

I have what i feel is a silly question about Python and looking for advice from those that do use it, as i feel the disagreement with my colleague who teaches CS will be fun.

 

Our disagreement comes from what should be used to access IDLE, i am told that when Python is launched it shouldn't open Python's black command line window, that it should automatically open IDLE.  I, on the other hand have said, launch IDLE and you have access to IDLE.

 

So help me Obi-Wan's and what are your thoughts?

 

Thanks

 

Mark

 

 

[ThomL]

We previous blocked student access to cmd with Applocker, this caused issues with idle startup for students - I can't remember why, but students were definitely getting a different experience to staff that were allowed cmd. We allowed the students cmd access and this improved the teaching and learning and removed some barriers I am told and shouldn't really be a risk factor - but it was nice to have the block in place originally. We will probably move to a group based rule to allow cmd access for just the students taking the programming lessons/course.

 

Reading your post again it seems your CS teacher is opening python in interactive interpreter mode via cmd (I think the python + idle install put a shortcut in the start menu for this) and not launching IDLE - interactive interpreter mode mention near the top of this page: https://docs.python.org/3/faq/windows.html

There should be another shortcut that launch IDLE.

 

Have you witnessed the process/steps the teacher is takin - what shortcut or how are they trying to access IDLE?

 

My gut feeling/the short of this is you can't expect to open IDLE if you clicking a shortcut for interactive interpreter via cmd...

 

[msi_school]

In my opinion the shortcuts should point to the package, if the teacher wants the students to open IDLE they should say open IDLE. I can see an argument for renaming IDLE Python IDLE but I would disagree and no reason for the changes asked for above.

 

This is just going to confuse the students going forwards, which is probably what happened to the teacher but they are just trying to make this a generational issue rather than breaking the chain.

[dhicks]

5 hours ago, msi_school said:

In my opinion the shortcuts should point to the package, if the teacher wants the students to open IDLE they should say open IDLE.

 

I'm currently building a desktop environment for our pupils to be able to use for development, I was planning to probably have separate shortcut icons for "IDLE", maybe "Python" (the interactive command prompt) and plain, standard "terminal" (Bash). This is on Debian running XFCE4, so the shortcuts will be on a panel, a MacOS-style "dock" at the bottom of the desktop, so there might be limited room for icons by the time I've added everything else I can thing of (Chrome, Inkscape, Pinta, probably VS Code, etc).