General questions

[PythonWriter]

First post here, and I've got some real basic questions.

I used to do a lot of coding (C++, Objective C, AS, JS etc) but haven't been into it for a few years. I want to create a program for data analysis from a database. I've decided that Python will be a good fit for that, and I've followed a few tutorials to get a feel for the language, but there's a number of things that are unclear to me. I'm using a Mac.

1. I want this to be an offline, i.e. desktop executable program. How do I do that with Python? Is it possible to create a clickable application that runs straight from the Mac, without having to open up the terminal etc to run Python?
2. I might as well use the best editor I can get, so I was thinking of paying for Pycharm, worth it?
3. I want to store the data in a database. Eventually there may be 100-300k of entries, but there won't be millions. So I was thinking of something like SQLite, but would the database be stored internally in the python program, or would it still be accessed as an external file (which I'd prefer I think)?
4. I want the program itself to have a GUI to allow me to put entries into the database (although I'm also storing them in a excel file right now, and will want to import that into the database at some point). What are the most popular GUI's to use with Python?
5. I know there are a number of data analysis and visualization libraries available for Python. Any suggestions on which would integrate well into what I'm trying to achieve?


Thanks for any help.

[Larz60+]

I want this to be an offline, i.e. desktop executable program. How do I do that with Python? Is it possible to create a clickable application that runs straight from the Mac, without having to open up the terminal etc to run Python?

Offline, of course. possible to create clickable app, yes need to run something like pyinstaller.

paying for PyCharm, worth it?

I'd opt for the community version, been using it for years without a hitch

So I was thinking of something like SQLite3, but would the database be stored internally in the python program,

It will still be an external l file, but every other type of data storage that I think of will be as well.
Coded correctly, the fact that a database is even being used can be totally hidden from the user.
The database, of coarse, can still be local.

I want the program itself to have a GUI to allow me to put entries into the database (although I'm also storing them in a excel file right now, and will want to import that into the database at some point). What are the most popular GUI's to use with Python?

Most popular are probably Qt5, wxpython and tkinter in that order.
tkinter is built in, but rather old looking on an apple, and does not contain nearly the number of widgets as Wxpython. All three will run
on OS-x, Linux, & windows

Personally I prefer wxpython (phoenix)

I know there are a number of data analysis and visualization libraries available for Python. Any suggestions on which would integrate well into what I'm trying to achieve?

there are literally hundreds, you will have to decide, but can search here: https://pypi.python.org/pypi

[PythonWriter]

I want this to be an offline, i.e. desktop executable program. How do I do that with Python? Is it possible to create a clickable application that runs straight from the Mac, without having to open up the terminal etc to run Python?

Offline, of course. possible to create clickable app, yes need to run something like pyinstaller.

paying for PyCharm, worth it?

I'd opt for the community version, been using it for years without a hitch

So I was thinking of something like SQLite3, but would the database be stored internally in the python program,

It will still be an external l file, but every other type of data storage that I think of will be as well.
Coded correctly, the fact that a database is even being used can be totally hidden from the user.
The database, of coarse, can still be local.

I want the program itself to have a GUI to allow me to put entries into the database (although I'm also storing them in a excel file right now, and will want to import that into the database at some point). What are the most popular GUI's to use with Python?

Most popular are probably Qt5, wxpython and tkinter in that order.
tkinter is built in, but rather old looking on an apple, and does not contain nearly the number of widgets as Wxpython. All three will run
on OS-x, Linux, & windows

Personally I prefer wxpython (phoenix)

I know there are a number of data analysis and visualization libraries available for Python. Any suggestions on which would integrate well into what I'm trying to achieve?

there are literally hundreds, you will have to decide, but can search here: https://pypi.python.org/pypi

Thanks for the info.

Regarding the first point. I think that's what confuses me about Python. With say C# I can create an .exe, click on it, and I'm good to go, but you're saying that I can't do that with Python if Python is not already installed on the machine I'm using first? Is there any way to have the whole thing in one package, that just runs without having anything pre-installed?

Regarding PyCharm. What would be the main reasons to purchase it rather than just using the community version?

Why do you prefer Wxpython ? That QT designer looks useful :) I'll want to integrate the visualization into the GUI, are there any GUI libraries that are particularly well suited for that?

[Larz60+]

python is an interpreted language, not compiled, so it requires an interpreter.

C# is compiled into IL, by the c# compiler. This is compiled 'just in time' into
native assembly language.

[ljmetzger]

I want this to be an offline, i.e. desktop executable program. How do I do that with Python? Is it possible to create a clickable application that runs straight from the Mac, without having to open up the terminal etc to run Python?

This may be possible with PyInstaller. See the PyInstaller documentation https://pyinstaller.readthedocs.io/en/st...ments.html and https://pyinstaller.readthedocs.io/en/st...-mode.html (bundling to one file section).

Lewis

[Larz60+]

This may be possible with PyInstaller.

already mentioned in post 2