According to this firmware post, the HP Prime graphing calculator supports Python. However, I cannot find any guide as to how to run python files in the calculator (even within HP’s own 700 page long user manual). Does anyone know how to execute these files?
- For reference, I have HP Prime’s connectivity kit (CK) installed, so I am somewhat able to transfer python code (by copy-pasting into CK’s “Programs” section). However, I think it’s reading it as Prime Programming Language instead, as it does not run.
Edit: HP Prime has rebooted and now there is a Python app, allowing me to run some files. Unfortunately, I cannot access any Python libraries. That is, I can only run files that do not have “import _____” in them. This seems like a problem; anyone know how to resolve?
Also a further problem is that the files are not actually saved in my calculator, as far as I can tell.
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Answer
I couldn’t really find a good source to read about Python support in this particular brand, but in general, graphing calculators have much more limited memory than personal computers, so they do not choose CPython or any of the heftier implementations of the Python language. They will instead use lightweight implementations like MicroPython or CircuitPython (not these ones exactly but maybe a derivation).
These implementations don’t have the full standard library of CPython and can have different modules particular to their intended contexts. There probably ARE some modules you can use, but without proper documentation it’s hard to say which. It may go without saying but you are certainly restricted from downloading arbitrary Python libraries.