Advices for a newbie who want to turn Leo flexibility to the simplest Sphinx editor

[Davy Cottet]

Hi,

I'm starting python programming for few months and just beginning to use Leo.
I first got attracted by Leo for its way to handle ReST documents structure (just perfect!) and live preview.
Then, I was quite disturb and very surprised by its level of complexity, (so many "hidden" implemented features), but looking deeper into it I though that complexity was not really meaning of complicated...
To tell the truth, since I'm quite novice to Python scripting and programming, I think I'll stay for a while with a more "conventional" IDE (I think I gonna like Eric) to get a better idea of what is basic python development.

But... I still really like Leo's philosophy and flexibility and want to use it for Shinx and ReST editing.
My idea, from what I understand for now, I think it will be not so difficult to turn Leo complexity to the most simple but complete Sphinx editor.

Let me explain my point, and tell me if I'm totally wrong... If I understand well Leo's basics, it could be possible to build a kind of Leo-Sphinx-template.leo containing all the needs of a sphinx project, without even modifying Leo's code and writting a new plugin.

1 - First thing would be to give this template all the file/folder structure required by Shinx (build,sources, statics, templates, setup.py, Makefile...).

2 - Perhaps use attrib-edit-py to graphically configure conf.py parameters... otherwise, maybe just link to edit conf.py or maybe a new directive for every parameter (probably useless...)

3 - Make new menus by introducing right @settings and @commands (and even delete some default scary ones for newbies and useless for basic Sphinx use).

For example I though about this kind of simple structure for this "sphinx-template.leo:

@settings
    @menus
        @menu Sphinx
            @item Configure  (gui edit for conf.py ?) or @item Edit conf.py and @item Edit conf.py
            @item -
            @menu make
                @item ReST  (Maybe dynamically generate items depending of Configure parameters)
                @item html
                @item epub
                ...
            @menu Open
                @item html
                @item pdf
                @item epub

That seems really easy to call make html or other make commands since it's always from the root folder.
Maybe some more tricky part is verifying that doc is build before opening browser (or maybe viewrendered2 ?)
....

One could think about publish html builds online and version control via python's hg-git plugin
    @menu Publish
          @On bitbuket    
          @On gitub
          @ftp
          @sftp
....
An maybe for completness some more complicated import/export features using for example using external pandoc for a full feature;
    @menu Import
           @item Docuwiki
           @item Mediawiki
           @item HTLM
           @item ODT
           @item RTF
....
     @menu Export
...
 

So, I wonder if I'm right thinking of customization with this kind of sphinx-template.leo (eg not using myLeoSettings.leo and not using plugin system).

Does Leo users use to share this kind of personal customized .leo file (I'm aware about security problem...). Are there a lot of Sphinx/Leo users ?

Do you think it would be a good idea to build this kind of templates for varius basic needs (we could think about other static bloging tools like Pelican and this type of editing usages...), I mean different set of menus for different use ?
Personally I think that could be a good way to make the power of Leo to really help people without programming skills.

Anyway, I'm beginning scripting around Leo An enjoy it. Thanks to the devs for offering that great tool to us python hackers :)

[Fidel N]

I begun with Leo at the same time I begun with Python, and also found Leo a bit overwhelming to use in the beginning, but Edward and others have done much to help newbies ever since (Tutorials, easier settings, quick start guide, etc).

I think its a great idea to use leo for your purpose, and I would start off by researching into the sphynx embedded in the documentation, which actually produces the leo website. There is a leo file containing it.

Anyway, thanks to clones and the easy scriptability, you will indeed be able to make most of the updating and editing automatic, just by properly arranging your nodes and using a bunch of menus/scripts.

I always try to give back and suggest scripts whenever my skill is suitable for the questions asked, and there is a very friendly community around which will always suggest the best way to fix your problems, at least that's what they did with me :)

Welcome, Davy!

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