[Zope] Comments? To create products with Python or with ZClasses

Kevin Dangoor kid@kendermedia.com
Tue, 9 May 2000 10:15:53 -0400


I've re-added the zope list here. (For context, in comparing writing
products in Python or with ZClasses, Anthony pointed out that integrating
outside resources [modules, files, net-based resources], Python is much
easier.)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony Baxter" <anthony@interlink.com.au>
To: "Kevin Dangoor" <kid@kendermedia.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Zope] Comments? To create products with Python or with
ZClasses


>
> >>> "Kevin Dangoor" wrote
> > Good points. The hybrid approach (ZClasses with Python base classes)
will
> > certainly allow you to add methods (through the base class) that do
whatever
> > you wish. Doing too much of that will end up giving you the worst of
both
> > models, though.
>
> I'd actually mention that in the discussion - I've worked with ZClass,
> Python, and ZClass-with-python-bases, and the third is far and away
> the worst of the lot (assuming more than a trivial base class).
>
> If you're going to do the hybrid thing, make seperate Products, and
> make the ZClass one include instances of the Python one when it's
> created. That way you can debug and manipulate them seperately.
> The ZClass based on Python class thing is one of those things that
> _seems_ neat, but it ends up causing considerable pain.

Thanks for the tip. Thinking about it now, I can see how it could certainly
be a pain to debug if your Python base class gets too complex.

> > BTW, I didn't think of the external connectivity issue because I haven't
> > needed to do it myself with my apps. But, I agree that this is something
> > many people would want to do. I added a paragraph in the flexibility
section
> > about this.
>
> A large amount of what I do in Zope is integration - plugging together
> databases, computers, email/voicemail systems, credit card processors,
> and all sorts of other unpleasantness. Zope could do with some work in
> this respect - being able to reload a Python Product, for one (but that's
> a Hard Problem - just doing a python reload() call isn't sufficient.)
>
> Hm, this probably could go back onto the zope or zope-dev lists...

And now it is :)

Kevin