Programming in Python and Explaination of Programming

[jtdowney]

Originally Posted by techwizrd

Sadly, our team wants to use C too. I personally suggest, being an experienced Python programmer (whatever that's worth ), using CPython to write the code. You can import the header files and write the code with Python syntax. If I am correct, you'll get nice compiled code at the end, that theoretically should work. I personally am not very experienced with CPython, as I do not normally need to write C-like code with toolkits like PyGTK out.

CPython is just the name of the standard Python interpreter (Just as JPython is the interpreter written in Java). It does not mean you can produce C code from your Python code.

[hdanak]

Originally Posted by techwizrd

Sadly, our team wants to use C too. I personally suggest, being an experienced Python programmer (whatever that's worth ), using CPython to write the code. You can import the header files and write the code with Python syntax. If I am correct, you'll get nice compiled code at the end, that theoretically should work. I personally am not very experienced with CPython, as I do not normally need to write C-like code with toolkits like PyGTK out.

I think that you are referring to Pyrex or Psyco. But remember, when your talking about compiled code, you mean compiled for a PC. Writing C on the PICmicro is not the same C in comparison to that used on a pc (different compiler, different libraries). Something written for a PC won't just run on a PIC.

However, I did find this Python to PIC assembly translator : http://pyastra.sourceforge.net/
It should run closer to native speed than an interpreter, but its not all that efficient, even if it doesn't use an interpreter.

By the way, we have decided on using microchip C for our robot, mostly because this year's competition is basically an RC race (even in Autonomous --hybrid-- mode), and partly because we weren't sure enough to allocate sufficient funds (including time) for buying/testing a coprocessor.

EDIT: heres a useful link: http://www.piclist.com/techref/microchip/languages.htm