
	 PalmPython -- Python Language PalmOS Synchronization

		   Version 0.5.0 / August 25, 1998

			    Rob Tillotson
		  <rob@io.com> or <robt@debian.org>
		      http://www.io.com/~rob/cq/


WHAT IS IT?

  PalmPython is an extension package for the Python[1] programming
  language which allows access to PalmOS connected organizers[2] and
  their data.  Using the popular pilot-link[3] library, PalmPython
  provides a high-level, object-oriented, extensible interface to
  PalmOS data, both on the local disk and on the device.

  Current PalmOS devices include the popular Pilot, PalmPilot, and
  PalmIII series from 3Com, and the IBM WorkPad.


FEATURES

  * Full support for the PalmOS standard synchronization protocols
    (via pilot-link)
  * Access to all DLP operations
  * Read and write local databases in the standard PDB/PRC format
  * Local and remote database access use the same classes & methods
  * Uses Python class system to provide application-specific record
    layouts
  * Application support[4] for Address, Datebook, Memo, To Do,
    MoneyManager, Doc, and XWord
  * Conduit management API
  * Standard conduits: Install, Backup, TimeSync
  * Python 1.5 hierarchial package layout
  * Python standard "Makefile.pre.in" for easy compilation


VERSION INFORMATION

  This version introduces a major change in the record API, allowing
  easier discovery of record layouts by outside code.  It also uses
  new (and hopefully easier to use) configuration file format, based
  on discussions on the pilot-unix mailing list aimed at unifying
  common configuration data across multiple applications.  The conduit
  manager is now easier for applications to use, and there have been
  improvements to the Doc module.

  Because of the significant changes in this version, you may wish to
  upgrade carefully; your code will probably require changes to work
  with this and subsequent versions.


REQUIREMENTS

  PalmPython requires Python 1.5 or newer, and pilot-link 0.8.11 or
  newer.  It is developed and tested on an i486 running Debian
  GNU/Linux 2.0, but should compile on any Unix system capable of
  running Python and pilot-link.  It may be portable to other
  platforms as well, and the author would appreciate compatibility
  reports.


AVAILABILITY

  PalmPython is free software, available under the GNU General Public
  License.  The most current release will be available at the URL
  above; new releases will also be submitted to the pilot-unix FTP
  site at <ftp://ryeham.ee.ryerson.ca/pub/PalmOS/> on a regular basis.


REFERENCES

  [1] http://www.python.org/
  [2] http://www.palm.com/
  [3] ftp://ryeham.ee.ryerson.ca/pub/PalmOS/
  [4] All listed application modules support packing/unpacking of data
      records; appinfo and preferences support is still incomplete.

