Shoebox is a graphics programming environment that has been rewritten in Pure Python version. It is the Nodebox's Mac-exclusive equivalent.
One of the best things about Shoebox is that it allows users to call it from external Python scripts with great ease. The software tool is loosely based on the principles that are outlined in the Little Coder's Predicament - a manifesto by the creator of Shoes, which is a similar and remarkable project that uses the Ruby language instead of Python.
Shoebox is capable of reading scripts in Nodebox language and generating images in PNG, PDF, SVG, or PostScript formats. As compared to other graphics coding alternatives like Nodebox and Processing, Shoebox is significantly lighter and more flexible since it does not depend on an interface engine for rendering. Hence, it is suitable for use in CPU-conscious applications like server applications.
However, unlike Processing and Nodebox, Shoebox can only output still images at present. The software tool can be run standalone or as part of a Python program. It is compatible with most GNU/Linux systems and was successfully tested on an Intel-based Mac running OS X.
Please note that Shoebox is still in the early alpha phase, and there are some bugs and forthcoming changes. However, the development team is working hard to fix these issues. To operate this software, users require Python 2.4 or newer, Cairo and PyCairo. Overall, Shoebox is a fantastic tool that has plenty of potential and capabilities, making it an excellent software tool for graphics programming.
Version 0.2: N/A