Together with Python e-learning courses this could be a real winner. I say this because back when I tutored compsci students, my most effective method was to use shared (GNU) screen sessions. The pair programming and the ability to see how others worked helped students become confident with Python a lot faster.
Unfortunately back then, students tended to use Windows and setting up Cygwin scared a lot of them before they even got around to doing any programming. A tool like Python Anywhere would definitely be a far more attractive approach if I were to do something similar today.
Yes it is definitely something that people are already using PythonAnywhere for. Especially introductory Python classes. Setting up everyone's machines can take hours. If they manage it at all.
Have you considered installing Enthought free edition ? It has in a single package: Python, Numpy, Scipy, IPython, and you can install it on Linux, Windows and Mac.
"Mac OS X 10.8 restricted to App Store, signed apps by default"
Says an App has to be released via the Appstore and signed to be installable under the default settings. This is not true. An app needs to be Signed OR in the Appstore to be installable by default.
Can you please edit your post title to include the word OR or a "/" between the two mechanisms?
Unfortunately I can't edit the title anymore (really sorry about that), HN let's you modify a post for a limited amount of time, after which the title (and the possibility to delete a post) is frozen.
As a side note, the title is the non edited title of the linked article, I didn't wrote this article ...
Unfortunately back then, students tended to use Windows and setting up Cygwin scared a lot of them before they even got around to doing any programming. A tool like Python Anywhere would definitely be a far more attractive approach if I were to do something similar today.