[nabs-l] Fwd: FAQ on nonvisual development

Wed May 19 00:58:14 UTC 2010

>Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 15:17:18 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Jamal Mazrui <empower at smart.net>
>Subject: FAQ on nonvisual development
>
>Nonvisual Development FAQ
>
>This is a set of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the 
>subject of software development by people who are blind or visually 
>impaired (blind programmers).  The initial version is by Jamal 
>Mazrui, who may be reached at the address
>mailto://jamal@EmpowermentZone.com
>
>Corrections, modifications, and new topics are solicited for 
>inclusion in the FAQ.  Indicate the question and answer being 
>addressed.  Your name and email address will be listed as a 
>contributor unless you specify otherwise.
>
>The current version was posted on
>May 18, 2010
>at
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/NonvisualDevelopmentFAQ.htm
>
>
>
>----------
>
>Contents
>
>Where can I find introductory examples for programming in a 
>particular language?
>Are screen reader configuration sets available for the Microsoft 
>Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE)?
>Is a free version of Visual Studio available?
>Are there tips for using Visual Studio with a screen reader?
>Are other IDEs available for .NET development besides Visual Studio?
>Is it possible to build .NET programs without Visual Studio?
>What accessible text editors may be used for programming?
>What tools are recommended for developing with the Java language?
>What tools are recommended for developing with the Python language?
>Is a simpler language available, e.g., one that does not involve 
>object oriented programming (OOP)?
>Is there an IDE designed with screen reader support?
>What screen readers may be customized for applications via scripting 
>languages?
>Is there job training specifically for blind programmers?
>What mailing lists exist for blind programmers?
>What web sites have resources for blind programmers?
>----------
>
>Where can I find introductory examples for programming in a 
>particular language?
>
>Blind programmers have contributed to a project intended for this 
>purpose. Specifications and samples of a "fruit basket program" are 
>at the web site
>http://FruitBasket.QuantumMyst.com
>
>A fruit basket program is intended as a simple but nontrivial 
>graphical user interface (GUI), exhibiting how a developer may 
>employ a particular programming language and platform, and how a 
>user may experience the result.  The length and complexity of code 
>may be considered from a developer standpoint;  the accessibility 
>and performance of the program may be considered from a user standpoint.
>
>Basically, the user interface contains an edit box for entering a 
>fruit name (e.g, apple), a listbox for collecting the fruit (the 
>basket), and buttons to add or delete items.  Obviously, such a 
>program is not inherently useful, but it does offer an informative 
>example of a development approach, with comparisons possible to 
>other programs meeting the same criteria.  Fruit basket samples are 
>available for many development approaches.
>
>----------
>
>Are screen reader configuration sets available for the Microsoft 
>Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE)?
>
>Blind programmers have developed a set of JAWS scripts for Visual 
>Studio (VS), which work with either VS 2005 or VS 2008.  They do not 
>work with VS 2010, which uses Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) 
>controls rather than Windows Forms controls.
>
>The executable installer for the scripts works with 64-bit Windows 
>and Windows 7, as well as earlier versions of Windows.  It is available at
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.exe
>
>Pick your JAWS version in the installer dialog -- the default is the 
>latest version found on your computer.  Otherwise, just press Enter 
>to accept all defaults of that dialog.
>
>A zip archive is also available for a manual install at
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/msenv2005.zip
>
>Documentation for the scripts is in the file msenv2005.htm.  It 
>gives steps for manual installation.  It also includes a list of 
>hotkeys and a tutorial on developing a fruit basket program with C# and VS.
>
>----------
>
>Is a free version of Visual Studio available?
>
>VS comes in various versions with increasing amounts of developer 
>tools and corresponding costs.  The "Express Editions" may be freely 
>downloaded and used, even in commercial projects.  Each Express 
>Edition is oriented to a particular language or platform:  C#, 
>Visual Basic, Visual C++, or Visual Web Developer (for developing 
>web sites with ASP.NET).  These are available at
>http://www.microsoft.com/express/Windows/
>
>----------
>
>Are there tips for using Visual Studio with a screen reader?
>
>A collection of tips has been gathered from blind programming lists, 
>called "Nonvisual Development with .NET," posted at
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/ndn.htm
>
>----------
>
>Are other IDEs available for .NET development besides Visual Studio?
>
>Sharp Develop is an open source, cross platform IDE for .NET 
>languages, available at
>http://www.icsharpcode.net/opensource/sd/
>
>Eclipse is an open source, cross-platform IDE for Java and other 
>languages, available at
>http://eclipse.org
>
>A plug in for C# development with Eclipse is called Emonic, available at
>http://emonic.sourceforge.net/
>
>----------
>
>Is it possible to build .NET programs without Visual Studio?
>
>C#, Visual Basic, and JScript .NET command-line compilers are part 
>of the .NET Framework 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK), which is 
>freely available at
>http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa731542.aspx
>
>Later versions of the .NET Framework include these command-line 
>compilers in the distribution of the Framework, itself.  Usually, a 
>shortcut is put on the Windows Start Menu for opening a command 
>prompt with PATH and other environment variables set so that these 
>tools are found when run.  You could also search your hard disk for 
>the C# compiler, csc.exe, and then add its directory to your search path.
>
>----------
>
>What accessible text editors may be used for programming?
>
>
>Boxer
>http://TextEditor.com
>
>EdSharp
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/edsetup.exe
>
>NoteTab Pro
>http://NoteTab.com
>
>TextPad
>http://TextPad.com
>
>----------
>
>What tools are recommended for developing with the Java language?
>
>Install the Java Development Kit (JDK) from
>http://JavaSoft.com
>
>Also there is the Java Access Bridge (JAB), which should be 
>installed for each Java Virtual Machine (JVM) on your computer.  A 
>direct download URL for the JAB is
>http://www.renovation-software.com/files/tgsdk/accessbridge-2_0_1.exe
>
>Eclipse is an accessible IDE especially tailored for Java 
>development.  It is available from
>http://eclipse.org
>
>Also there is the Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT), a Java package that 
>produces accessible GUIs on Windows and Linux.
>
>----------
>
>What tools are recommended for developing with the Python language?
>
>Install Python from
>http://python.org
>
>Install the wxPython package for creating accessible GUIs from
>http://wxPython.org
>
>For Windows development, install the Python for Windows extensions at
>http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/
>
>Also install py2exe, a package for building stand-alone executables from
>http://py2exe.org
>
>In Python, code indentation is syntactically required rather than 
>stylistically optional.  The EdSharp editor includes features that 
>help screen reader users manage indentation efficiently, available at
>http://EmpowermentZone.com/edsetup.exe
>
>----------
>
>Is a simpler language available, e.g., one that does not involve 
>object oriented programming (OOP)?
>
>AutoIt is a Visual Basic-like language that is freely available from
>http://AutoItScript.com
>
>----------
>
>Is there an IDE designed with screen reader support?
>
>Sodbeans is being developed at
>http://sodbeans.sourceforge.net/
>
>----------
>
>What screen readers may be customized for applications via scripting 
>languages?
>
>
>HAL
>http://YourDolphin.com
>
>JAWS
>http://FreedomScientific.com
>
>Nonvisual Desktop Access
>http://www.nvda-project.org/
>
>Window-Eyes
>http://GWMicro.com
>
>----------
>
>Is there job training specifically for blind programmers?
>
>Lion's World Services For the Blind has a curriculum called 
>Enterprise Solutions Programming -- a 10-month course which prepares 
>clients to work in a wide range of programming environments 
>including .NET and others. Exams for Microsoft Certified 
>Professional Developer (MCPD) are offered through the program.
>http://www.lwsb.org/enterprise_solutions_programming.asp
>
>----------
>
>What mailing lists exist for blind programmers?
>
>
>Blind Geeks -- Where Blind People Learn Programming
>http://BlindGeeks.org
>
>BlindWebbers -- List for blind and visually impaired web authors
>http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/blindwebbers/
>
>dev-accessibility -- Accessibility of Mozilla products to those with 
>disabilities
>https://lists.mozilla.org/listinfo/dev-accessibility
>
>GW-Scripting -- Discussion list for information regarding the 
>development and use of Window-Eyes scripts
>http://www.gwmicro.com/Support/Email_Lists/
>
>Java Accessibility
>http://archives.java.sun.com/cgi-bin/wa?A0=java-access
>
>JAWSScripts -- For scripting and configuring JAWS
>http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
>
>LibLouis and LibLouisXML -- List for the discussion and development 
>of the liblouis and liblouisxml braille translation, 
>back-translation, and formatting software
>http://www.freelists.org/list/liblouis-liblouisxml
>
>NVDA Developers -- List for development of the Nonvisual Desktop 
>Access screen reader
>http://www.nvda-project.org/wiki/Community
>
>Open A11y of the Linux Foundation
>http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/accessibility/email
>
>program-l -- Discussion group for visually impaired computer programmers
>http://www.freelists.org/list/program-l
>
>ProgrammingBlind -- Programming while blind
>http://www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>
>----------
>
>What web sites have resources for blind programmers?
>
>
>AbilitiesSoft -- Developing software for people with disabilities
>http://www.AbilitiesSoft.com/
>
>Blind Geeks -- Where Blind People Learn Programming
>http://BlindGeeks.org
>
>Inthane's Grab Bag -- Blind programming assistance
>http://GrabBag.AlacornComputer.com
>
>NonvisualDevelopment -- promoting software development without 
>visual dependencies
>http://NonvisualDevelopment.org
>
>

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
Follow me on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920