pyCologne Python User Group, Cologne, Germany, January, 13th Notes

The Python User Group Cologne (pyCologne) met on January, 13th at the computer centre of the University of Cologne. The meeting was attended by 10 people. German speakers might want to refer to our wiki page http://www.pycologne.de

This time we had a talk about the network-tool Scapy:

"Scapy - Experimenting with network packets" (Dirk Loss)

Dirk introduced the network-tool "Scapy" which allows building as well as analysing network packets. There are some similarities between Scapy and Wireshark, a well known graphical network analyser. Wireshark is also known by its predecessor Etherreal.

Scapy features building and manipulating network packets using an extended python-command-prompt. The '/' (division)-operator is overloaded to represent nesting of a packet-part into another. To nest an ICMP (ping echo-request) packet into an IP-packet you would write: i=IP(dst="8.8.8.8")/ICMP()

Besides the creation of network packets you can use Scapy to:

• Send out network packets
• Sniff network packets and analyse them on the command-line
• Visualize a conversation using the command conversation()
• Visualize the nested structure of an IP-packet with the command pdfdump()
• Create a series of packets with slight, random faults for testing purposes ("Fuzzing")

Analysing complex, high level protocols is difficult. However, Scapy offers state machines to keep track of the conversation.

Dirk did a live presentation of all the mentioned features, which led to a lot of interesting questions during and after the talk.

You can find the slides of Dirk's talk here:

http://dirk-loss.de/scapy/Scapy_pyCologne_2010-01-13_DirkLoss_v1.1.pdf

Other topics

During the rest of the meeting we talked about the following other issues:

• Question for good python introductory material: "Dive into Python" was recommended.
• Martin looks for a solution to generate comments within a C++-library into doc-strings of the corresponding Python-wrapper. There were some answers. However, we could not find a final strategy for doing that. Suggestions are very welcome!
• We would like to encourage participants to do, additionally to the classic talks, short talks or live presentations which need less preparation. The estimated duration of a talk should be announced beforehand for better organization.
• Reimar proposes to organize a "Python-Day" in Cologne and to invite other Python-User-Groups from Germany as well to participate. We will look for 1 or 2 suitable days on a weekend.
  

The minutes of the meeting in German language can be found here.

The next meeting will be held on, Wednesday, February, 10th.

Most of the participants enjoyed the rest of the evening in our usual italian restaurant having food, drinks and friendly conversation.

pyCologne Python User Group, Cologne, Germany, August, 12th Notes

The Python User Group Cologne (pyCologne) met on August, 12th at the computer centre of the University of Cologne. The meeting was attended by 17 people. German speakers might want to refer to our wiki page http://www.pycologne.de.

Flyer

The pyCologne-Flyer is ready for print!!! Klaus Bremer introduces its contents:

• The three inner pages contain information about Python.
  
• The title page shows the pyCologne-Logo and short information about pyCologne.
• The remaining pages contain a short description of pyCologne and contact information.

Please see the flyer on: http://wiki.python.de/User%20Group%20K%C3%B6ln/Flyer

Todays Talk: How to automate and extend Windwows-Applications with pywin32 (Andreas Schreiber)

Andreas introduced the pyWin32 Module, which makes it possible to communicate via the COM-Interface to Windows-Applications.

• COM uses the Client-Server-Model
• Nearly each peace of software on Windows provides a COM-Interface, mainly the Office-Applications.
• It is possible to "remote control" applications. Andreas presented an example which controls Word via the Python-Command-Line.
  
• Moreover, COM makes it possible to register Python-Code for events of Office-Applications: Andreas showed an example which catches the "turning-page"-event from a Power-Point presentation and sends the page heading out to Twitter.
• It can be quite difficult to examine the COM-Interface provided by different applications. There are some tools available like COM-Browser and makepy. Moreover, it is a good idea to have a look into the help-file of the application, which often contains an application specific documentation of the COM-Interface.

Details in German are available on: http://wiki.python.de/User%20Group%20K%C3%B6ln/VortragWindowsAutomatisierung

The announced talk "MIDI-Programming using Python on Linux/ALSA" unfortunately had to be canceled because Chris was ill.

Announcements

• September, 19th: Software-Freedom-Day: Linux-Install-Party at Odysseum (Cologne, Germany). Further information (in German) on: http://pv-rheinbogen.de/CcpWiki/InstallParty2009

• September, 20th: Tag der Luft- und Raumfahrt (Day of Air- and space travel) at DLR (Cologne) . Please find further information on: http://www.dlr.de/tdlr/
  

• September, 14th to 18th: "Grok Neanderthal Sprint" at GFU in Cologne.

The minutes of the meeting in German language can be found here.

The next meeting will be held on, Wednesday, September, 9th.

Most of the participants enjoyed the rest of the evening in our usual italian restaurant having food, drinks and friendly conversation.

pyCologne Python User Group, Cologne, Germany, July 8th Notes

The Cologne Python User Group met on July, 8th at the computer centre of the University of Cologne. The meeting was attended by 14 people. German speakers might want to refer to our wiki page http://www.pycologne.de.

Announcements

• Johannes Huperts: The Linux-UserGroup will hold an Install-Party on August, 23rd. People who like to help are welcome.

• HelmutSiegert: September, 9th there will be held a Free-Software-Day at Odysseum/Cologne. They ask for participation of pyCologne:
  

  • General talks about Python topics.
  • Help within a Linux Install Party
    

Todays Talk: Django (Daniel Hepper)

Django is a framework for creating web-applications which supports the following technologies/approaches:

• MVC - Model-View-Controller
• O/R-Mapper
• Auto-Admin Interface
• User-friendly URLs
• Templates
• User-/Session-Management

Firstly, Daniel gave a general introduction into creation of web-sites beginning with static HTML, over CGI-Scripts to modern web-frameworks .

Secondly, he introduced Django by creating a Django application to manage "Running-Events" like e.g. Marathons.

Django features the semi-automatic creation of applications using manage-scripts, which for example generate database-tables from models written down in Python-code. It is possible to generate Python-code from database-tables as well.

The create-, update-, and view-pages can be created based on templates. However, it is possible to use generic views to display data from a database without programming.

Report vom EuroPython 2009

This year's EuroPython took place in Birmingham (UK). Location was the Birmingham Conservatoire. There were about 450 participants.

From pyCologne AndreasSchreiber, JanUlrichHasecke, Henning und ReimarBauer met in Birmingham.

For EuroPython advance booking for the conference as well as for talks is necessary.

There were 6 tracks in parallel. Therefore, it was not possible to attend all talks of interest. However there are recordings.

Speakers have to apply to EuroPython in advance. New topics are favored over the repetition of older talks.

Furthermore, an Open-Space for free exchange of information is provided. Food, drink and coffee are provided as well.

Participation fee is around 90 Pounds (GBP) für 3 days.

The minutes of the meeting in German language can be found here.

The next meeting will be held on, Wednesday, August, 12th.

Some of the participants enjoyed the rest of the evening in our usual italian restaurant having food, drinks and friendly conversation.