[KLUG Members] Family tree program

[Mark]

> Tim Gray wrote:
> What is the stumbling block?
> 

Tim,
  Brock is a novice.  Maybe he doesn't know what Python, gnome-python
and pygtk2 are.  (To be honest, I'm not sure I know what pygtk2 is.)

Brock,
  Python is a computer language.  The reason you need to have it on your
computer is that it is an interpreted language.  Without getting into
lots of computer details, lets use an example.  Let's say the best way
to convey the beauty of Haiku is to write it in Japanese.  You probably
don't know Japanese so you need an interpreter.  You could translated it
permanently but then you would lose the beauty of the Haiku.  If you
read a lot of Haiku, then you may carry a Japanese pocket interpreter
with you.  Python is the same.  Your computer doesn't inherently know
the Python language.  For lots of technical reasons, the author of
GRAMPS doesn't want to write it in the specific language your computer
understands.  So your computer needs a Python interpreter.  Since many
programs are written in Python, your distro (Suse 9.2, IIRC) probably
has it installed already.  Gnome-python and pygtk2 are utilities that
the author used to make the program more user-friendly.  Again, you
probably have them installed.

Everyone,  (passing the ball here)
  How do we help Brock?  First, we have to show him how to check if the
packages are there.  I suspect Brock knows how to check the packages but
let's do a review for any other novices.  Second, in the case where one
of those packages are not there, can we give a step-by-step instruction
to show how to find them and install them?

Mark