2003-04-04, 19:47 CST: I've got a few weeks light experience using python,
mostly on top of PYUI.  PYUI hasn't been very condusive to rapid development
so far (I don't even have my other project fully operational after
changing versions)  So, I get to start from total scratch, with nothing
except the load-image function from the pygame chimp demo typed into
a 'pgutil' module.  I hope nobody calls it cheating?  :^)

2003-04-04, 20:00 CST: Theme is preparation.  Looks like it's circuit
design.  But maybe I'll come up with something better tonight.

2003-04-04, 20:30 CST: Oh, and I still don't have a good editor;
IDLE sucks.

2003-04-04, 21:06 CST: After messing with the IDLE immediate mode
finally found a way to 're-import' the game module (use menu,
not typed import command)  Basic program loop ready (basically
from pygame chimp example)  Sleep now.

2003-04-05, 05:44 CST: Awake and out of bed.

2003-04-05, 07:11 CST: I have a square on the screen.  Better yet,
it is made up of lots of little squares and I can make a line with
program code.  Next step: define a tool class for handling
mouse imput so I can draw on it.  But first, breakfast.

2003-04-05, 07:57 CST: Back from breakfast.

2003-04-05, 08:37 CST: Can draw and erase squares on the 'circuit board'

2003-04-05, 09:39 CST: IDLE just crashed during normal text entry.
(there is a reason they make you save before every test)  Components
can place pins down on the board; getting ready to test multiple
components, then it's figuring out pin connections.

2003-04-05, 10:32 CST: The coninuting saga of IDLE SUCKS.  The F5
to import feature was working okay for a while, until I tired
working on my pgutil module.  No matter what I do, short of shutting
down the program (not practical as it involves opening up lots of
windows afterwards) it continues to use the first version that
got imported.  The errors print out the modified lines, but
keep giving the same errors over and over again.  Looks like
I'm back to running the program wholesale from the shell.

2003-04-05, 12:00 CST: Lunch with parents.  Have successfully idenfied
traces between pins, no just need to figure out which components
the pins are attached too...

2003-04-05, 13:18 CST: Return from lunch.

2003-04-05, 13:47 CST: figured out how to make a screenshot.  Did not
figure out how to recognize 's' key; used space instead.  Also ran
GIMP for first time, clipped down (since large bottom section not being
used, and converted to png.

2003-04-05, 15:01 CST: Traces identifiy the correct number of pins.
In theory I can start propigating signals.

2003-04-05, 15:00 CST: I can light a bulb from a power source,
though the traces drawn on the board.  Now I need some graphics
or something to show that...

2003-04-05, 16:38 CST: Simple graphics in place; power source
needs to be edited.  Next step is probably a tool palette
and component placement.  But now getting zonked, probably
do some other stuff for a while then eat dinner.

2003-04-05, 20:00 CST: Dinner, reading, nice long bath...

2003-04-05, 21:05 CST: Can place arbitrary components on a
larger field, and connect them with traces.  Discovered int/float
problem in trace calculations when I did an incorrect hookup of
two power sources to one bulb.  New screenshot and log upload.
Goodnight.

2003-04-06, 06:47 oh wait... 07:47 CST: Somehow I forgot about the time
change; makes my 'slow out of bed' even worse.  I wonder if the contest
deadline is adjusted appropriately?  Of course it will be past my
bedtime if it is...

2003-04-06, 09:03 CST: Each tool has own mouse icon.  Parts show
bounding boxes when component tools are selected.  Working on testing
said bounds to prevent illegal placements.  But first, breakfast.

2003-04-06, 10:02 CST: Back to work

2003-04-06, 10:24 CST: No more overlapping component placement.
Red-box feedback even.

2003-04-06, 10:40 CST: Delete tool operative.

2003-04-06, 11:17 CST: Can win a trivial version of the game.
Need for feedback on that fact, and then multiple projects

2003-04-06, 12:49 CST: Game help, exit/done button, and restart
of single project after win.  Need more components so I can
make more projects...  But now, lunch.

2003-04-06, 13:22 CST: Back from lunch.

2003-04-06, 13:50 CST: Small problem; since I'm using a super simplifed
electrical model, I don't really have a good way to simulate a resistor.
I'll have to rethink the model after the competition.

2003-04-06, 15:31 CST: Even my primitive not gates aren't working
I have mouse-hover pin names though; now I need a meter tool
during run to debug my own parts...

2003-04-06, 16:32 CST: Basic gates working; had to collapse toolbar
to text because didn't want to implement scrolling.

2003-04-06, 17:39 CST: Looks like I need to rework with Volts/amps
to make much of anything work...

2003-04-06, 19:14 CST: Yeah, diodes finally work...

2003-04-06, 20:12 CST: So much for the working diode theory...

2003-04-05, 20:23 CST: Diodes: typo assigned to nonvariable.
Stupid Python ;^)

2003-04-05, 20:50 CST: Final code up, log and screen to follow shortly