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SPE (Python IDE) for Windows


I’ve been playing with Python this weekend. Currently I’m rebuilding “Clink” in Python instead of finishing it in Flash (It really needs AS 3.0 to do properly, and I only have access to 2.0).

The book I am reading (Game Programming: The L Line, The Express Line to Learning) recommeds the SPE (Stani’s Python Editor) IDE for creating Python programs. However, the book doesn’t really say how to get the program. Stani (the IDE’s author) doesn’t appear to have a web page with a “download” link and instructions; so here’s a download link with instructions from me instead (this is for installing on Windows):

 

Step 1: Download & Install wxPython (NOT wxWidgets!!!!)

The book states that you should download and install wxWidgets. It turns out, you need wxPython instead, which you can get here:

http://www.wxpython.org/download.php

Scroll down and get the version that matches your version of Python. Just double click the downloaded file, and it basically installs itself. I won’t give you any advice on what boxes to check at the end of the install, because I don’t remember what they said, and to be honest, I arbitrarily made my choices having no clue as to why I was choosing what I chose (I unchecked the top one, and left the bottom two checked).

Step 2: Download and Install SPE

Go to http://developer.berlios.de/project/showfiles.php?group_id=4161

Get this file: SPE-0.8.4.c-wx2.6.1.0-no_setup.zip

Unzip it to somewhere you will remember (I put mine in Program Files) but don’t rename the folder anything other than “_spe”.

Go inside the _spe directory you just created and double click SPE.py

At this point your shiny new Python IDE should start up. If not, sorry… I don’t know why it didn’t work. Make a shortcut to the editor on your desktop for easy opening (or start menu, or quicklaunch toolbar).

Have fun!

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 3:23 am and is filed under Software, Tools, tutorial. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

8 Responses to “SPE (Python IDE) for Windows”

  1. Stani says:
    September 15, 2008 at 4:12 am

    You only need to install wxpython, wxwidgets is not required.

  2. admin says:
    September 15, 2008 at 4:53 am

    Great, thanks for the heads up Stani! I’ve edited the post to reflect this…

  3. eyeofthellama.com » Blog Archive » Which Tools To Use For Python Development says:
    November 30, 2008 at 9:16 am

    [...] Good info about the SPE download and install process: http://blog.chomperstomp.com/?p=165 Tags: IDE, Python, SPE This entry was posted on Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 5:16 pm and is [...]

  4. Andy Harris says:
    July 25, 2009 at 4:15 pm

    Yes, you are correct. I’ve made that correction for the next edition, but the book has not sold as well as my other works, so I don’t know when the new version will be available. Please do let me know if you find any other issues.

    I enjoy your blog…

    -Andy (Author – Game Programming L Line)

  5. Christopher McCulloh says:
    August 6, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Andy, thanks for the kind remarks!

    I’ll be sure to let you know if I see anything else like this.

    I look forward to picking up the updated copy whenever it does come out…

  6. dutch says:
    August 24, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Cant get SPE running on windows xp
    all I want is an editor to use while learning python (I know there is IDLE, but I hear people generally use something more complete like SPE, so Im just starting off that way).

    so installing and getting it to run…Some trick? I let python and spe go where they wanted to. I did not mess with it.

    First, I downloaded python:
    Python 2.6.2 Windows installer (Windows binary — does not include source)
    From: http://www.python.org/download/

    Then I (finally) found SPE for windows. I say ‘finally’ because the download link is in a really sucky place; way down on the right side where most people expect to find ads. It SHOULD be right at the top.

    Download Archive
    where I found and downloaded:
    SPE-0.8.3.c-wx2.6.1.0-py24.exe 1293196 111475 i386 .exe (32-bit Windows)

    After finding some sort of help (here) I had to do a search for a _spe directory, where I double clicked SPE.py…….AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

    Help.

    ~david

  7. Prasad says:
    September 4, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Thanks a lot.You have no idea how much this blog helped me.
    have you posted any other useful blogs like this?

  8. Salvadora says:
    October 24, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    This is rad. Great work!

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