ActiveState prepares Python for databases

ActiveState has updated its distributions of the Python programming language so that they provide developers easier access to databases, as well as new ways of creating GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces), the company announced Wednesday.

The ActivePython update also offers ways for programmers to create secure connections to databases and Web services, using OpenSSL and M2Crypto-based cryptographic modules.

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These new packages will be included in the company's ActivePython Business, Enterprise and OEM Editions, which are all marketed to enterprise developers.

Created by Guido van Rossum to script routine system administration tasks, Python is a widely used open-source programming language, often praised for its ease of use.

ActiveState's commercial versions of the language now come with a number of database connectors that developers can use to have their programs interact with databases, notably MySQL, PostGres and Oracle.

The software also includes a set of tools to help developers build GUIs. One toolkit, PyQt, offers the ability for programmers to render interfaces with the QT cross-platform framework, which is used for Google Earth and the KDE Linux desktop. It contains 300 classes and more than 5,750 functions and methods. The new release includes the wxPython and Tkinter GUI packages as well.

As with many packages included in the ActiveState distributions, these libraries are freely available for download, though ActiveState compiles and integrates them so they will be ready to use when the software is installed. Commercial support is also provided with the releases.

Earlier this year, ActiveState updated ActivePython with a number of mathematical libraries, in order to better support the financial industry.

Joab Jackson covers enterprise software and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Joab on Twitter at @Joab_Jackson. Joab's e-mail address is Joab_Jackson@idg.com

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