James wrote:

My first question has to do with using templates with ZPublisher: Will I still get to use all the nifty "var", "expr" and flow control constructs in my dtml, or will I be limited because my stuff in not running within Zope? Do I need to get the ZTemplate package to do this, or does ZPublisher have this stuff built in?

You can use ZPublisher and ZTemplate. This is what Skip is doing at MusiCal with good results.

Second, where can I get documentation and examples on using ZPublisher and ZTemplate on their own?

Uhh, that's a different point :^) http://www.zope.org/Documentation/Reference/ObjectPublishingIntro http://www.zope.org/Documentation/Reference/Trinkets

Third: Will ZPublisher run with the embedded Python/Apache system, or do I need to use pcgi?

Can't comment on PyApache. You can use PCGI or you can do as Skip and Andreas do an use mod_proxy to connect Apache and ZPublisher.

Fourth: If I want to maintain state/session information inside my code, which of the above solutions will work better? I know that Apache instances only last for N requests, does Python/Apache have a shared memory system to handle this. (Sorry if this is off topic, but I figure someone here must have played with it)

That's why you don't want to use PyApache. Have a separate ZPublisher long-running process.

Thanks for all the help, I'm really excited to get started with Python. ColdFusion is frustrating because it's so limited, and Java Servlets are frustrating because they are too much work.

Oh you're just sweet talking us :^) --Paul