VPython 3D Python programming for ordinary mortals
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programming 3D language programming language python programming 3d programming

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3D Python programming for ordinary mortals Python is a powerful object-oriented programming language initiated by Guido van Rossum in 1990. It is easy to start writing simple programs in Python, and even using classes and objects involves a relatively gentle learning curve. Python is cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux). Python itself does not provide graphics output. The Tk graphics library can be used to create 2D graphics, but it is difficult to use. In the spring of 2000, while a sophomore in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, David Scherer created a 3D graphics module for Python, called "Visual," that is exceptionally easy to use. A program can create 3D objects (such as spheres, curves, etc.) and position them in 3D space. Visual, while running in a separate thread, will automatically update a 3D scene many times per second, to be able to reflect the current positions of the objects.The programmer does not need to deal with display management, but can focus on the computational aspects of the program. The user can navigate in the 3D scene by using the mouse to zoom and rotate while the program is running. Visual supports full vector algebra.The combination of Python plus the Visual module is called "VPython". (Visual is dependent on an existing Numeric module, now superceded by Numpy.) VPython is a package that includes:· the Python programming language· the IDLE interactive development environment· "Visual", a Python module that offers real-time 3D output, and is easily usable by novice programmers· "Numeric", a Python module for fast processing of arrays

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