Can I use python to create flash like browser games?

Question

is it possible to use python to create flash like browser games? (Actually I want to use it for an economic simulation, but it amounts to the same as a browser game)

Dav

Answer 1

Yes, but there a a number of ways to get there.

Flash is the client side rendering. You could use Python to generate Flash, or you could use Python to generate some dynamic HTML with Javascript, etc. that was interactive in a similar way.

But the Python will be running on the server. The Flash, ActionScript, HTML, JavaScript, etc. will all be running on the client.

So while the answer to the question is yes, I am going to suggest you might need to do more research and ask a better question.

Answer 2

You could have Python CGI code as a backend and send input in to it through AJAX. Its probably better just use something on the client side for this, though.

Answer 3

You need to use something that the current browsers support, this means you're stuck with Flash, Java applets or Javascript+HTML if you want your game displayed in a browser.

You can use python on the backend and display pure HTML, if that is enough for your needs.

Answer 4

You could use Python to do client side scripting using Silverlight + IronPython. Of course, this requires all your users install Silverlight.

I think you're talking about using Python on the back end, in which case running something on the server side with Python (in which case this Django vs other Python web frameworks SO question is a good general list and may have what you're looking for.

Answer 5

The answer would be yes, assuming you consider this a good example of what you want to do:

http://pyjs.org/examples/Space.html

This browser-based version of Asteroids was created using Pyjamas, which enables you to write the code in python in one place, and have it run either on the browser, or on the desktop:

http://pyjs.org/

Having recently found Pyjamas, and also preferring to consolidate my code in one language (Python!) and location (instead of having some code server-side, and some browser/client-side, in different languages), it's definitely an exciting technology. Its authors have ported the Google Web Toolkit to Python, a really impressive feat, retaining the expressive power of Python (something like 80,000 lines of Java was shrunk to 8,000 lines of Python). More Pythonistas should know about it. :)