G3 or G4 processor
at least 64 MB of memory
OS 8.1 or above
1) Install OpenGL. OpenGL extensions come with OS 9.0, but not with previous systems. You can download these extensions from Apple by going to http://asu.info.apple.com and typing "OpenGL" at the "Search for" prompt. The newest version, which works with OS 8.1 or greater, is v1.1.2.
2) Install Python 1.5.2c1. Go to http://www.cwi.nl/ftp/jack/python/mac/old/ and download one of the Python152 installation files. Follow the instructions to install Python.
3) Download the file VPythonMac-2000-10-18.sea.hqx from this site and decompress it into the Python 1.5.2c1 folder (where Python was installed) on your hard drive. It contains seven items:
i) PythonCore (which replaces the original PythonCore from your installation)
ii) Visual (a folder containing modules needed by the visual 3D library)
iii) Programs (a folder containing demo programs)
iv) README.txt (this file)
v) VisualRef.pdf (complete documentation on 3D objects, visual syntax, etc.)
vi) VisualIntro.pdf (intro to VPython for those new to Python)
vii) VisualOverview.pdf (overview of Visual for those who already know Python)
Drag a program file (for example, bounce2.py, found in the /Programs/Demos folder) onto PythonInterpreter, an application in your Python 1.5.2c1 folder. To zoom into and out of the scene, drag the mouse. To rotate around the center of the scene, hold down the SHIFT key and drag the mouse.
Use the editor of your choice. BBEdit Lite (http://www.barebones.com/products) is a nice free editor, but SimpleText will work. Save your program as a text file, and (from the Finder) drag the file onto PythonInterpreter. For cross-platform portability, save your program files with a ".py" extension.
In the near future we will offer a working Mac version of IDLE, the standard Python interactive development environment, from which you can edit and run programs, and which offers various useful features such as colorization of code, Python formatting options, and help locating errors. The version of IDLE that came with your Python installation does not work properly with VPython.
The IDE that comes with the Python installation can also be used as an editor, but if you run a program from the IDE, when you stop running the IDE quits as well, and you have to restart it.