Introduction

Not so long ago, I came across the idea of using Python Class Definition Syntax to create IRIS classes on the InterSystems Ideas Portal. It caught my attention since integrating as many syntaxes as possible gives visibility to InterSystems’s products for programmers with experience in many languages.

Index

Part 1

• Introducing Flask: a quick review of the Flask Docs, where you will find all the information you need for this tutorial;
• Connecting to InterSystems IRIS: a detailed step-by-step of how to use SQLAlchemy to connect to an IRIS instance;

Part 2

• A discussion about this kind of implementation: why we should use it and situations where it is applicable.

Case description

Let’s imagine that you are a Python developer or have a well-trained team specialized in Python, but the deadline you got to analyze some data in IRIS is tight. Of course, InterSystems offers many tools for all kinds of analyses and treatments. However, in the given scenario, it is better to get the job done using the good old Pandas and leave the IRIS for another time.

Our objective

In the last article, we talked about a few starters for Django. We learned how to begin the project, ensure we have all the requisites, and make a CRUD. However, today we are going a little further.
Sometimes we need to access more complex methods, so today, we will connect IRIS to a Python environment, build a few functions and display them on a webpage. It will be similar to the last discussion, but further enough for you to make something new, even though not enough to feel lost.

Programming and languages

Being a programmer nowadays is basically the geek version of being a polyglot. Of course, most of us here, in the InterSystems Community, “speak ObjectScript”. Howeever, I believe this wasn’t the first language for many people. For instance, I had never heard about it prior to getting the appropriate training at Innovatium.

Introduction

This article is intended to be a simple tutorial on how to create ODBC connections and working with them, since I found starting with them a little bit confused, but I had amazing people to take my hand and walk me through it, and I think everyone deserves that kind of help too.
I'm going to divide each little part in sections, so feel free to jump to the one you feel the need to, although I recommend reading everything.

Introduction

This is a simple tutorial on the quickest way I found to create a sample database for any purposes such as testing, making samples for tutorials, etc.

Creating a namespace

1. Open the terminal
2. Write the command "D $SYSTEM.SQL.Shell()"
3. Write "CREATE DATABASE " and the name you want for your namespace.

Now you have a new namespace in a faster way than creating it from the Management Portal - which of course offers way more configuration options.

Why am I writting this?

Last year I made an article for starters on using embedded python. Later, it started a little discussion on how to return values with python and I found some interesting observations that are worth writing a little article. Also, hopefully I can reach more people by writing this.

Possible situations

There are two things you'll need to care about when returning a value with python. The first is the type you're trying to return and the second is where you're returning it.

Here you'll find a simple program that uses Python in an IRIS environment and another simple program that uses ObjectScript in a Python environment. Also, I'd like to share a few of the troubles I went trough while learning to implement this.

Python in IRIS environment

Let's say, for example, you're in an IRIS environment and you want to solve a problem that you find easy, or more efficient with Python.

You can simply change the environment: create your method as any other, and in the end of it's name and specifications, you add [ Language = python ]: