Python for S60(PyS60 for short) is a general port of the Python programming language on the S60 software platform of Symbian OS based mobile phones. It is based on Python 2.2.2 and contains many of the standard library modules of the language, including mobile-platform specific modules such as native GUI elements, Bluetooth, SMS messaging etc.

In this article I’ll explain how I installed PyS6o on my Nokia N73 phone, which runs on Symbian 9.1(3rd Edition) operating system and supports S60 software platform.

So here is the plan:

Download necessary files

Transfer them to the phone

Install PyS60

Write a test script and run it.

1. Download necessary files

You need to download two python installers (.sis extension) from Sourceforge.net. The first is the PyS60 interpreter and the second one is the Python Script Shell(i.e. user interface). Here are the links for the files that I downloaded:

PythonForS60_1_4_5_3rdEd.sis

PythonScriptShell_1_4_5_3rdEd.SIS

Notice that the second part of the filename represents the version number(1.4.5) and thrid part represents the edition of the OS(in this case 3rd).

2. Transfer them to the phone

Transfer the downloaded files to the phone by USB cable or Bluetooth or whatever medium that you use.

3. Install PyS60

Go to Menu > Tools > File Manager. Browse to the directory where you have placed the installers and run them. After installation go to Menu > Applications and look for the Python logo that appears on the list.

4. Write a test script and run it

You would notice that a directory name ‘Python’ has been created on the phone file system, depending on whether you have installed PyS60 on the phone memory or on the expandable memory. Write a single line script in your computer:

print "Hello World";

Save it as hello.py and transfer it to the Python directory of your phone. Now launch the Python application. Select Run script from Options, choose hello.py from the list and run it by clicking OK. It will print the message on the console. Alternatively you can run the demo scripts provided in the Python directory.

Update: PyS60 1.9.0 has recently been released(thanks to cb22 for informing me). Download it from here.