Getting ThudBoard to run on Mac OS-X 10.3.xxx
=============================================
This is a short HOW-TO that describes how I got ThudBoard to work on a G4
PowerBook, it may help you to get it to work on your Mac as well.
First off, try if everything magically already happens to be there...
1. Startup a Terminal
- in the Finder: Applications => Utilities => Terminal
2. Type 'python' on the prompt, which may look something like::
marc$
so that would give (including response) ::
marc$ python
Python 2.3 (#1, Sep 13 2003, 00:49:11)
[GCC 3.3 20030304 (Apple Computer, Inc. build 1495)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>
3. At the python prompt (indicated by >>>), type the following (typing and
possible response given again) ::
>>> import Tkinter
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in ?
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.3/lib/python2.3/lib-tk/Tkinter.py", line 38, in ?
import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk
ImportError: No module named _tkinter
4. If the only response to the import of Tkinter was::
>>> import Tkinter
>>>
then everything is already setup, probably. Chances are this won't be so Smile
If, however, you are lucky enough that this happened to you, then you can
skip to the last step of this how-to.
Now that we have determined there are some requirements left that should be
satisfied first, let's follow the basic steps described in the answer to
question 4.5 from
http://www.pythonmac.org/wiki/FAQ
(or http://www.pythonmac.org/wiki/FAQ#head-8838d40da5d563166ca8b13cfb71cd2e856e81e3)
This basically says:
1. Download and install TclTkAqua
Head down to http://tcltkaqua.sourceforge.net/ and download the file named
TclTkAqua-8.4.7.dmg, which is the middle one under 'Available Releases',
8.4.7 for Mac OS 10.3 and later.
Open this file and doubleclick the Package to install it. Follow instructions.
2. Download and install the MacPythonPantherAddons if you are using the version
of Python 2.3 included with OS X 10.3
Go to http://homepages.cwi.nl/~jack/macpython/download.html and download the
file that is under the link 'MacPython 2.3 for Panther addons'.
Open the file and doubleclick the Package to install it. Follow instructions.
3. Open PackageManager, it is located in /Applications/MacPython-2.3
This will give you a list with items, including _tkinter.
4. Install _tkinter by selecting it and clicking 'install' (or a similar button
located at the bottom of the window).
5. You can try the first part of this how-to again to see if 'import Tkinter' now
gives the expected >>> return from step 4 instead of the Traceback you got in
step 3.
Install ThudBoard:
1. From http://www.million.nl/thudboard/download.html you should download the
file thudboard-1.3.tar.gz found under the header 'ThudBoard 1.3 Source'
(the version number may be different by now).
2. Doubleclick the file and drag the thudboard folder in the package to your
desktop.
Finally, run ThudBoard:
1. Startup a Terminal
2. At the prompt, change to the ThudBoard folder::
marc$ cd Desktop/thudboard
(this assumes the thudboard folder is on your desktop)
3. At the prompt, run::
marc$ pythonw thud.py
Notice the pythonw, don't run python without the w.
4. It should be possible to make the equivalent of a shortcut somewhere, or
include ThudBoard in the Applications, but I've only had limited time on a
Mac so I haven't looked into that yet.
Enjoy!
I'm just now in the process of moving to a brand new iMac Core Duo, and I've had success so far in getting Thudboard to run via Python and the Terminal, only I can't get the trolls to capture at all. I 'right-click' away, but nothing seems to happen.
Anyone with any thoughts?
It seems that if I can't get something to work, I'm going to have to keep the PC running until the end of TT2006 (or until I get booted, whichever comes first!)
28:06:42:12...
I tested it on a powerbook some time ago, and then I could only capture with a more-than-one-button mouse attached, not with the option-left-click that represents a rightclick on a powerbook (or something like that).
Can you get the Dwarfs to capture Trolls? Probably not if it doesn't work the other way around, but just making sure...
And I am thinking about a single-mouse-button interface where you can capture using just a single mousebutton... if I get around to that, can I abuse you as a mac-tester?
Ciao, Marc.
(will probably get a Mac myself, but that will be some months away)
I've tried using the multi-button mouse that came with the Mac, as well as connecting the Logitech one that I used on the PC, but nothing at all.
The dwarfs capture trolls, no trouble, although that may be because they have to physically occupy the same square. It's the right-click to remove pieces that I can't get to work. I can drag them off the board, but of course that messes up the list of moves.
Also, for the record, the mouse interface is a bit clumsy, in that it's the bottom of the pointer, and not the top, that determines where you click, and the cut-and-paste feature doesn't seem to work (or a least I haven't figured out how to work it).
I say all that not by way of complaint, but for constructive criticism. By all means, let me know when you want to test stuff, and I can try to play with it and find out what doesn't work...
I wonder if it was Thudboard 1.3 that you got to work on the Powerbook and not 1.6. Would that make a difference?
28:06:42:12...
Looks like the right-click functionality is hosed somehow...
The dwarfs capture trolls, no trouble, although that may be because they have to physically occupy the same square.
As a clumsy workaround, you can pick up a Troll, plonk it on the Dwarf you want to capture, pick the same Troll up again, put it on the next capture, and so on and so forth, with the last move for the Troll to actually occupy the place you wanted it to go in the first place. Does that work?
Also, for the record, the mouse interface is a bit clumsy, in that it's the bottom of the pointer, and not the top, that determines where you click, and the cut-and-paste feature doesn't seem to work (or a least I haven't figured out how to work it).
Hmmm, the mouse used to work as advertised when I tried it...
About the cut and paste, does it work when you click the icons? or with Ctrl-C/V? or not at all? (btw, what is the 'normal' way to do cut/paste on a Mac?)
I wonder if it was Thudboard 1.3 that you got to work on the Powerbook and not 1.6. Would that make a difference?
It probably was 1.3, but the difference between 1.3 and 1.6 is really small, so I guess not... it is more likely that I got it to work on OSX 10.2 and not on 10.4 or something.
I say all that not by way of complaint, but for constructive criticism. By all means, let me know when you want to test stuff, and I can try to play with it and find out what doesn't work...
Bug-reports are always a good thing, I just wish I had a Mac to try things out myself... but who knows, maybe someone who can code and owns a Mac can step up and help out?
Ciao, Marc.
As a clumsy workaround, you can pick up a Troll, plonk it on the Dwarf you want to capture, pick the same Troll up again, put it on the next capture, and so on and so forth, with the last move for the Troll to actually occupy the place you wanted it to go in the first place. Does that work?
It does work like that, and it is clumsy. I think I was also able to haul the offending dwarfs off the side of the board, which is similarly clumsy.
About the cut and paste, does it work when you click the icons? or with Ctrl-C/V? or not at all? (btw, what is the 'normal' way to do cut/paste on a Mac?)
I don't know about 'normal', but I've been using Command-C/V. That does't work for me in Thudboard, nor do the icons.
Coding is one area where I'd be no help to you at all, but if I can be any help from the user-perspective, just holler.
28:06:42:12...
nor do the icons.
Which you are clicking on with the bottom part of the mouse-pointer instead of the pointy bit because of that weirdness, right?
If you are, it is probably the clipboard interaction that is broken on the Mac.
Dearmer :
nor do the icons.
Jackpot! Apparently I was lying (although when I first tried it, I really couldn't get the icons to work...) I can't seem to get Command-C/V to work, though, but at least I *can* copy and paste.
I think I found the best workaround for the trolls, or at least one that's less clumsy than the others we'd mentioned. I can drag trolls on top of dwarfs, or use the 'captured' to capture other unaffected dwarfs (leaving a dwarf where there's supposed to be one, and an empty square where there's supposed to be one, and a captured dwarf in the capture-bar, where there's supposed to be one). But either of those leaves a usedless .thud file that doesn't leave the right idea of the game.
However, when I got the cut-and-paste to work (I still wish I knew what I had been doing wrong!) I realized that I can cut and paste troll capture moves from TextEdit, or even better, the comment box. It's still more tedious than right-clicking to capture, but at least it works, and the .thud files are still useful and legible.
28:06:42:12...
I'll just add that I went and ordered a MacBook (wanted one for some time), so when that arrives I'll be doing some more coding on the Mac-side of Thudboard...
Nice. I almost got the lower-end MacBook, but when I got to the store, they had an open-box special on the iMac for $130 more (as opposed to $200). Got it home, and found out it was still set up for a store demo model, and the OS X discs were still at the store! Now, I live an hour and a half away from where I bought it, so I had to putz around with a demo model for the weekend.
But, when I got back to the store Monday morning, they told me that they couldn't find the missing software, *or* the Apple Remote, so I walked a way with a brand new, unopened model for the discounted price!
It's very slick. I sometimes wonder if I would have done better to go for the MacBook portability, but I'm definitely loving the bigger display, bigger HD and Superdrive...
28:06:42:12...
I did get the slightly more expensive version with the Superdrive, and I upgraded the HD a bit (but since I have a server at home, I always have all the hd-space I want, so just the 80Gb version)
And I chose it specifically for the portability, also one of the reasons I got a MacBook and not a Pro... the smaller the better
The smaller display, well, I just have to live with that
But you got a good deal on yours! Congrats!
I'm just now in the process of moving to a brand new iMac Core Duo, and I've had success so far in getting Thudboard to run via Python and the Terminal, only I can't get the trolls to capture at all. I 'right-click' away, but nothing seems to happen.
Have a look at the new OS-X 10.4 topic!
Enjoy, Mc!
I've yet to move to Tiger... so if you need a guinea pig running Panther, let me know. Macpython.org has a bunch of stuff for you, now that you are on a Macbook. Including ways to get it to be an executable, so we don't have to do the fancy terminal magic. Using the terminal is rather arcane for many mac people.
If you want, I could try to hack up the executable myself....
Otherwise, it works okay on Panther.
Thanks for the offer. I'm planning on doing the packaging myself as well... I'm just looking for a bit of time to actually get anything done
. But once I get going, the more testers, the merrier 
And if there had been no terminal, I probably wouldn't have gotten a MacBook, but that is a different story.
Ciao, Mc!