Python finally made available on the Nspire !

Adriweb

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Oct 10, 2014, 12:52:38 PM10/10/14

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Hi all,

Several weeks ago, Python programming on the TI-Nspire was made available by porting Micro Python (a lightweight but serious implementation) onto our beloved platform :)
It's been talked about on TI-Planet several times if you want to read more :

- http://ti-pla.net/t15140 for a technical overview,

- http://ti-pla.net/t 15309 for STEM programming examples,

- and http://ti-pla.net/t15191 (in French) for its possible usage inside the French teaching system.

Quick facts :

- Python is way more famous and used today than Lua (let alone [TI-]Basic), and its popularity is rising every day.
- Benchmarks on the TI-Nspire CX show that for several algorithms (and graphical programs like a simple mandelbrot plot) tried so far, Python is either as fast (worst case) or (much) faster than Lua. TI-Basic is way behind both.
- Like TI-Basic and Lua, Python is a great way to introduce students to programming. It however has a much larger programmer community since it's much more popular.

A more complete comparison between TI-Basic, Lua, Python and C/C++ is available on TI-Planet's article : https://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=15309

Download :

Available here : https://tiplanet.org/forum/archives_voir.php?id=89439
Ndless required (so, OS version 3.1 or 3.6 required)
Development version (unstable, but updated I/O for symbols, "JIT", drawing API...) : https://tiplanet.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=169306#p169306

A French "prépas" teacher has already started teaching with Python on his Nspired-enabled classes (100+ students) and it would be great if you do to :)

Note : because Python on the Nspire is not (yet ?) supported by TI, if you're interested in this, please let TI know - they do listen to teachers, and maybe we'll soon be able to get Python officially without the need of jailbreaking !
(Want a template letter about this for TI you just need to fill ? See the end of this post !)

If you have questions, feedback, or are interested to talk about it more, please do, here or on the TI-Planet original topic (French and English languages welcome).

Have fun,

Adrien "Adriweb" Bertrand

TI-Planet.org

Here's the letter to TI template for anyone interested in getting Python officially on the Nspire :

Hello,

[INTRODUCTION:]
Several weeks ago, third-party programmers showcased the possibility of running a reduced version of a Python interpreter on the TI-Nspire platform.
See http://ti-pla.net/t15140 for a technical overview, http://ti-pla.net/t15309 for STEM programming examples, and http://ti-pla.net/t15191 (in French) for its possible usage inside the French teaching system.

[CORE ARGUMENTS:]
Unfortunately, this requires the Ndless jailbreak... and therefore, many users won't be able to take advantage of it, as it doesn't work on the latest OS version.

Nowadays, Python is the most widespread scripting language for teaching in European high schools and universities. Having access to such a tool, in an interactive fashion, on calculators such as the Nspire, would be a great thing.

[PERSONAL ARGUMENT(S):]
As a teacher, I'm about to advise my pupils buying new calculators, and I'd be even more confident recommending the Nspire (which is already a good calculator) if it were possible to write Python programs, since they're precisely being taught this programming language.

[CONCLUSION:]
That's why, I'm requesting that the Python programming language be accessible to everybody on that platform.

Thanks in advance for any effort you'll be willing to make for fulfilling this request.
[FIRST AND LAST NAME]
[DAILY JOB]
[OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION IF NEEDED]