IDLE 0.5 - February 2000 ------------------------

This is an early release of IDLE, my own attempt at a Tkinter-based IDE for Python.

For news about this release, see the file NEWS.txt. (For a more detailed change log, see the file ChangeLog.)

FEATURES

IDLE has the following features:

• coded in 100% pure Python, using the Tkinter GUI toolkit (i.e. Tcl/Tk)

• cross-platform: works on Windows and Unix (on the Mac, there are currently problems with Tcl/Tk)

• multi-window text editor with multiple undo, Python colorizing and many other features, e.g. smart indent and call tips

• Python shell window (a.k.a. interactive interpreter)

• debugger (not complete, but you can set breakpoints, view and step)

USAGE

The main program is in the file "idle.py"; on Unix, you should be able to run it by typing "./idle.py" to your shell. On Windows, you can run it by double-clicking it; you can use idle.pyw to avoid popping up a DOS console. If you want to pass command line arguments on Windows, use the batch file idle.bat.

Command line arguments: files passed on the command line are executed, not opened for editing, unless you give the -e command line option. Try "./idle.py -h" to see other command line options.

IDLE requires Python 1.5.2, so it is currently only usable with a Python 1.5.2 distribution. (An older version of IDLE is distributed with Python 1.5.2; you can drop this version on top of it.)

COPYRIGHT

IDLE is covered by the standard Python copyright notice (http://www.python.org/doc/Copyright.html).

FEEDBACK

For feedback, please use the Python Bugs List (http://www.python.org/search/search_bugs.html).

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)