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Python for Android
I knew it was just a matter of time when someone ports python to Android. Kudos to Google employee Damon Kohler, who decided to built SL4A – Scripting Layer For Android in his 20% time that Google allows their employees to work on “pet projects”. Not only that SL4A supports python, other contributors ported some other popular interpreters to SL4A, such as Perl, JRuby, JavaScript, Lua, BeanShell and Tcl…more interpreters are on the way.
Linux Journal published interesting article in March issue, #204, titled “Python for Android”.
I’m happy to report that installing SL4A and python for Android on my HTC Hero (running Android 2.1) as described in the above article was trivial.
Here are the steps on how to install SL4A and Python for Android on HTC Hero (with OS 2.1):
- Temporary enable installation of applications from unknown sources
Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> check "Unknown sources"
- open Android web browser on your HTC phone and go to http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/.
If you tap on “QR Code” on the web page you’ll start downloading SL4A, at the time of this writing it was sl4a_r3.apk.
After download completes, simply tap the downloaded apk package, then tap on Install button. This will install SL4A on your phone. Test the installation by tapping on Open button to open SL4A. If you receive warning “No matches found” simply ignore it, because you don’t have any script yet.
Now, that we have SL4A “engine” ready, it’s time to install Python itself. - return to Android web browser and open the page http://code.google.com/p/android-scripting/. Find “Featured Downloads” section on left side of the page, then find the package PythonForAndroid_r4.apk. Tap the package to initiate the download, when download completes tap the package to start installation by tapping “Install button”.
When installation completes tap the “Open button” followed by tap on Install button. This will download and install python support libraries from SL4A web site and add them to SL4A.
- That’s it. If you check your Applications you’ll see two new icons, “Python for Android” and “SL4A”. At the time of this writing, python version was 2.6.2.
- If you open SL4A you should see some pre-created python demo scripts on the list.
- If you tap on the particular script you can pick action from the menu.
- For example, you can Edit the script.
- Finally, don’t forget to disable option that allows installing applications from unknown sources (see point #1).
How to compile cx_Oracle (python 3.2 for Windows x64)
I needed cx_Oracle 5.0.4 binaries for recently released python 3.2 for Windows x64. Since there were no binaries released for python 3.2, I built binaries myself.
Ingredients that you’ll need for cooking:
- 64-bit Windows (I used Windows 2003 x64)
- 64-bit python 3.2
- 64-bit Oracle client of your choice (I build with both, 10g R2 and 11g R2)
- Visual Studio 2008 Express (don’t be tempted to install VS 2010!!)
- Windows SDK for Windows 2008 and .NET 3.5
- Optionally: I used Virtual Clone Drive for conveniently mounting ISO images.
Note: Similarly, you can build 32-bit cx_Oracle, in that case you’ll use 32-bit Windows, 32-bit python 3.2 and 32-bit Oracle client. I’ll point to the difference when necessary.
0) Prepare Windows x64 (I used Windows 2003 x64 test machine)
1) Download Visual Studio Express 2008 with SP1 from Microsoft site
I downloaded VS2008ExpressWithSP1ENUX1504728.iso. I’ll let you to find the iso on Microsoft site for yourself!
Because Python 3.2 was built with VC 2008, you must use VS 2008 and not for example more recent version, VS 2010.
2) Install Visual C++ with default options
Note: When installing on x64, some components are installed in “Program Files (x86)” and some in “Program Files”.
3) Download Windows SDK for Windows 2008 and NET 3.5
I downloaded 6.0.6001.18000.367-KRMSDK_EN.iso.
4) Install SDK for Windows 2008 and NET 3.5 in default location
Note: I deselected Documentation and Samples to speedup the installation process.
5) Install 64-bit python 3.2 for Windows x64
Note: Alternatively, if you want to build 32-bit cx_Oracle binary, you must install 32-bit python 3.2.
6) Download cx_Oracle 5.0.4 tar file with the source
I downloaded cx_Oracle-5.0.4.tar.gz. Unzip in some temporary directory (D:\cx_Oracle)
7) Prepare command prompt for build
Start -> Run ->
If you're building on Windows x64:
%comspec% /k ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin\vcvars64.bat""
If you're building on x86:
%comspec% /k ""C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin\vcvars32.bat""
set ORACLE_HOME=D:\ORACLE\ORA11R2\NETWORK\ADMIN
set PATH=D:\ORACLE\ORA11R2\BIN;C:\python32;%PATH%
set PYTHONHOME=D:\Python32
8) cd to temporary cx_Oracle directory
cd D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle
cmd> python setup.py build
..this step wil create build directory with the build, you'll see something like this:
D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4>dir build
Volume in drive D is SW
Volume Serial Number is B83A-326E
Directory of D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4\build
04.03.2011 15:06 .
04.03.2011 15:06 ..
04.03.2011 15:06 lib.win-amd64-3.2-11g
04.03.2011 15:06 temp.win-amd64-3.2-11g
0 File(s) 0 bytes
4 Dir(s) 10.261.749.760 bytes free
Now you can install library with:
cmd> python setup.py install
You will see output simiral to this one:
D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4>python setup.py install
running install
running build
running build_ext
running install_lib
copying build\lib.win-amd64-3.2-11g\cx_Oracle.pyd -> C:\python32\Lib\site-packages
running install_data
creating C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc
copying BUILD.txt -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc
copying LICENSE.TXT -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc
copying README.TXT -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc
copying HISTORY.txt -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc
creating C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\connection.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\cursor.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\genindex.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\index.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\license.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\lob.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\modindex.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\module.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\objects.inv -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\search.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\searchindex.js -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\session_pool.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\subscription.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
copying html\variable.html -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html
creating C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\basic.css -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\default.css -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\doctools.js -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\file.png -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\jquery.js -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\minus.png -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\plus.png -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\pygments.css -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
copying html\_static\searchtools.js -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\html\_static
creating C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\DatabaseChangeNotification.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\DatabaseShutdown.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\DatabaseStartup.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\ReturnLongs.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\ReturnUnicode.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
copying samples\RowsAsInstance.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\samples
creating C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\3kNumberVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\3kStringVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\Connection.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\Cursor.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\CursorVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\DateTimeVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\IntervalVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\LobVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\LongVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\NumberVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\ObjectVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\SessionPool.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\SetupTest.sql -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\StringVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\test.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\test3k.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\TestEnv.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\test_dbapi20.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\TimestampVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uConnection.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uCursor.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uCursorVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uDateTimeVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uIntervalVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uLobVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uLongVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\UnicodeVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uNumberVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uObjectVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uSessionPool.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uStringVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
copying test\uTimestampVar.py -> C:\python32\cx_Oracle-doc\test
running install_egg_info
Writing C:\python32\Lib\site-packages\cx_Oracle-5.0.4-py3.2.egg-info
9) Test the build by importing cx_Oracle library
cmd> python
D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4>python
Python 3.2 (r32:88445, Feb 20 2011, 21:30:00) [MSC v.1500 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import cx_Oracle
>>>
Optionally, if you want to build cx_Oracle for 10g client (assuming you have
10g client installed on the same machine, simply change the home and run the build:
set ORACLE_HOME=D:\ORACLE\ORA10
set PATH=D:\ORACLE\ORA10\BIN;%PATH%
python setup.py build
and you’ll find two additional directories under build:
D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4>dir build
Volume in drive D is SW
Volume Serial Number is B83A-326E
Directory of D:\cx_Oracle\cx_Oracle-5.0.4\build
04.03.2011 15:16 .
04.03.2011 15:16 ..
04.03.2011 15:13 bdist.win-amd64
04.03.2011 15:16 lib.win-amd64-3.2-10g
04.03.2011 15:06 lib.win-amd64-3.2-11g
04.03.2011 15:15 temp.win-amd64-3.2-10g
04.03.2011 15:06 temp.win-amd64-3.2-11g
0 File(s) 0 bytes
7 Dir(s) 10.260.930.560 bytes free
Happy cx_Oracle coding!
Using Python With Oracle 11g
Oracle has published two tutorials on Oracle Learning Library that covers python and Oracle RDBMS. The first tutorial, Using Python With Oracle Database 11g is a short introduction on basic python/Oracle idioms. Examples will not make you an instant python/Oracle hacker, but nevertheless tutorial covers all major cx_Oracle methods.
The title of second tutorial,Using the Django Framework with Python and Oracle Database 11g, speaks for itself if you’re web programmer.
IronPython – how to compile exe
IronPython 2.6 ships with pyc.py (look in %IRONPYTONINSTALLDIR%\Tools\Scripts\pyc.py), script that can be used to compile python script(s) into binary (exe). For the purpose of this mini how-to I created a directory D:\IronTestCompile with the following contents:
D:\IronTestCompile>dir /b /oe Microsoft.Scripting.ExtensionAttribute.dll Microsoft.Scripting.dll Microsoft.Scripting.Core.dll IronPython.dll IronPython.Modules.dll Microsoft.Dynamic.dll hello2.py hello1.py pyc.py HelloWorld.py
From IronPython directory I copied all the necessary DLL’s (Microsoft*.dll, IronPython*.dll) that are needed for compilation and as run-time prerequisite to run compiled HelloWorld.exe. HelloWorld.py is my main script that imports two additional modules, hello1.py and hello2.py and pyc.py is compilation script shipped with IronPython 2.6.
Here is the contents of HelloWorld.py, hello1.py and hello2.py:
#
# HelloWorld.py
# IronPython - Compile test
#
import hello1
import hello2
print "HelloWorld from HelloWorld.py"
hello1.Hello()
hello2.Hello()
# End
# hello1.py
def Hello():
print "Hello World from Hello1.py"
# hello2.py
def Hello():
print "Hello World from Hello2.py"
Now let’s see what we can do with pyc.py script:
D:\IronTestCompile>ipy pyc.py
pyc: The Command-Line Python Compiler
Usage: ipy.exe pyc.py [options] file [file ...]
Options:
/out:output_file Output file name (default is main_file.<extenstion>)
/target:dll Compile only into dll. Default
/target:exe Generate console executable stub for startup in addition to dll.
/target:winexe Generate windows executable stub for startup in addition to dll.
/? /h This message
EXE/WinEXE specific options:
/main:main_file.py Main file of the project (module to be executed first)
/platform:x86 Compile for x86 only
/platform:x64 Compile for x64 only
Example:
ipy.exe pyc.py /main:Program.py Form.py /target:winexe
And here is my command line that I used to compile console application HelloWorld.exe:
D:\IronTestCompile>ipy pyc.py hello1.py hello2.py /out:HelloWorld /main:HelloWorld.py /target:exe
Input Files:
hello1.py
hello2.py
Output:
HelloWorld
Target:
ConsoleApplication
Platform:
ILOnly
Machine:
I386
Compiling...
Saved to HelloWorld
End result of compilation are two files, HelloWorld.exe and HelloWorld.dll. Both files (plus above listes DLL’s) are needed for application to run. And here is sample output:
D:\IronTestCompile>HelloWorld HelloWorld from HelloWorld.py Hello World from Hello1.py Hello World from Hello2.py
How to compile cx_Oracle module on Windows x86
Usually I would not touch with a stick open source package that need to be compiled on Windows. cx_Oracle is different. For me it’s a mandatory python extension module that just need to be there when I need to access Oracle database from python script. Until recently, I was happy with more or less promptly released binaries. They always installed and worked flawlessly. The problem is that at the time of this writing I’m starting to evaluate python 3.1.1 for which cx_Oracle is not yet available. It’s a trivial task to compile cx_Oracle on Linux, but I need Windows version as well. So, for the first time I tried to compile cx_Oracle on Windows by myself.
According to author build instructions, he recommends MinGW compiler for builds on Windows. To make my story short, I downloaded MinGW and to the best of my knowledge tried to compile cx_Oracle module. I miserably failed, each time with an error stating that vcvarsall.bat could not be found. Obviously setup.py script or perhaps python distutils module itself simply expects Microsoft compiler, Visual C++ to be present. After spending a couple of hours searching the web for hints I decided to try another route, with Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2008. Surprisingly cx_Oracle 5.0.2 compiled easily.
Here are the steps that I followed:
- downloaded cx_Oracle source code (see link “Source code only”) and unpacked the tar in temporary directory
- downloaded and installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express edition.
- downloaded and installed Python 3.1.1
- downloaded and installed Oracle10g client (10.2.0.4)
- compiled and installed cx_Oracle:
1) Open Visual Sudio Command Promt, Start -> Run:
%comspec% /k ""C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat"" x86
2) within VS 2008 command prompt cd to directory where you untared cx_Oracle
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC> cd c:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2
C:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2>
3) set environment, for example:
C:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2> SET ORACLE_HOME=D:\ORACLE\ORA10
C:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2> SET PATH=C:\PYTHON3;%ORACLE_HOME%\BIN;%PATH%
4) compile and install cx_Oracle
C:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2> python setup.py build
C:\Python3\cx_Oracle-5.0.2> python setup.py install
5) test cx_Oracle by trying to import module
C:\Python3>python
Python 3.1.1 (r311:74483, Aug 17 2009, 17:02:12) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on
win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import cx_Oracle
>>>
Visual Studio 2008 Express is free but need to be registered within 30 days, registration is completely up to you, if your only goal was to compile cx_Oracle you don’t need registration.
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