Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Posted by Jamison Imhoff
Jamison Imhoff
12,460 Points

General Programming Question Help

I am very new to coding in general and am currently working my way through the python course.

My main question is if I were wanting to create (for example) a simple calculator type of program, how would this be done in a way that would be recognizable as a windows program?

In other words, basic programs consist of a dialog box, interface, etc., but when I am writing code it is purely text based. What is the transitional stage from pure text base applications to layouts, buttons, interface, etc that is understandable to the average non-coding pc user?

I have heard things about flask and django, but I am not familiar with how those work (like I said just working through python atm).

I also assume it has to do with assigning window height and width for starters...

Just wanting to become more familiar with the process!

Thanks.

2 Answers

Cameron Armstrong
Cameron Armstrong
9,406 Points
Cameron Armstrong
Cameron Armstrong
9,406 Points

For Python you can learn to use graphical libraries which are freely downloadable and that way you can program graphics in code. A very basic drawing Python library which you don't even need to download is called Turtle graphics. Look up how to use it. For things like iOS development, you can literally just drag and drop buttons and switches and pictures onto your program in the Xcode interface builder and then write the code that makes all those buttons have any function.

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

For a windows application I think you would be looking more towards a framework like PyQt4 then Flask or Django which are web frameworks.

Zetcode.com has a great tutorial on PyQt4 which taught me a lot. The word for what you will be building is GUI(Graphical User interface) sometimes called a "gooey". It can be a little tricky to get started but the forum is here to help and there are lots of great tutorials.

Goodluck! --Ricky