I didn't link to python 3.3 above, so "none of this stuff is working" would not be stuff I posted. Most python programming is still done on 2.7, because libraries for 3+ are limited.

I would suggest that if you don't have the skill to read arbitrary code from the Internet and understand it, especially if the author is targeting Bitcoin users, that you do not run such code on your computer - it could as easily have obfuscated "upload wallet.dat to hacker" code.

The code snippet you linked is for executing a trade on btc-e, you must do more than just click on it, it requires your api key and secret key be added to the code, and you must use command-line parameters to specify what currency and type of order you wish to execute. It says that on line four of the code. Original thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=97359.msg1075244#msg1075244

All that is needed is to download and install Python. For Windows: http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.7/python-2.7.msi

The code only requires standard libraries, but you may find other advanced code that require other common-but-not-included libraries, such as greenlet, twisted, zope, boost, etc.

Here is some code which takes command line options; try saving this as example.py and running it from the command line. Master this first:

import sys; print ' '.join(sys.argv)

You would need the Python interpreter, it comes as an installer or zip, I recommend the installer. There is a 32-bit version and a 64-bit one, use whichever suits you. That should be all, unless that script depends on modules not part of standard Python.

http://www.python.org/download/

The Python installer associates .py files with Python so double clicking will execute them, or you can do it the old fashion and recommended way

One of the truly world changing potential outcomes of Bitcoin is remittance of money to 3rd world countries.

Currently people from poor countries working in rich(er) countries face difficulties sending home money, which is usually the main reason for their being overseas in the first place.

The typical scenario is someone working as a maid, construction worker or cleaner or other service job and sending money home on a usually month by month basis. Typically they face very high costs to this transaction.

Here's an example with Western Union, numbers taken from their website, and I choose the UK as the sending country which might be a kind of "typical" case (the US will usually be a bit better than other sending countries, but I'm sure it varies).

Remitter wants to send 100 pounds sterling (GBP).
Current exchange rate on Google is 1GBP = 63.81 PHP (Philippine peso)
Western Union charges a flat fee of 6.90 GBP. So you are actually spending 106.90.
Meanwhile they're using an exchange rate of 62.50 instead of 63.81. So overall you are out of pocket (6821-6249)/6821 or 8.3%.

Of course there are other remittance services and it would be good to hear more information about them. I just looked at www.xoom.com and without doing detailed calculation I can see similar fees - maybe 6% to send a similar amount from the US.

People will of course save money if they send less often, but the nature of being poor is exactly that you have to transact more often.


It would be great to see real world solutions from bitcoin, but right now it seems a long way off. In order to send using bitcoins you need realistically to transact fiat-btc on both ends of the transfer. Certainly in a 3rd world country, for now, there isn't much if any exchange value in btc.

So, do people have any ideas? How can we make it easy for people to receive BTC in, say, the Philippines, and then somehow get that into Pesos for their living needs? Or Africa, India, South America?

I chose the Philippines not just because it's a classic remittance type economy but also because I got involved in some charity work there recently and would love to help out with a project there in some way. I'm going to have a lot of free time over the next year so let me know if you're involved in something and need a hand.

Don't bother with VBA (it's bad). I still don't understand why you need excel involved. In fact, I don't even think you need a user interface. A simple C++/C#/python console program can do everything you want.

Yes, it probably *could* be done using a scripting language like Python or VBA, but why?  Do you have some complex formulas that would be hard to port to a scripting language?

How common are smartphones in Zimbabwe?
If they're not very common yet, what's needed for quicker Bitcoin adoption is something like Coinapult SMS wallet, at least while smartphones are not everywhere.

And, of course, an exchange would be necessary too. I'm not aware of any... is there an exchange in Zimbabwe, or an easy way for Zimbabweans to send dollars to foreign exchanges?

Actually, if the transfer of cell phone minutes is so easy, wouldn't it be possible to build a "cell phone minutes/BTC" exchange, instead of BTC/USD exchange? You would only need to be sure the cell phone operator would not close the exchange account for unauthorized use of its credits.


For the great majority of transactions you don't need more than 1 confirmation. Actually, if you know the sender, you don't need any confirmation at all.


Are you aware of Bitcoin Wireless? Perhaps you should contact them.

For example you have 300 minutes of call time on your sim card and you send 100 minutes to your friend.
He will have 100 minutes more and you will have 100 minutes less.
It is only possible if the network provider supports this feature. There is no general code for this feature - depends on your provider.
Is usable in some countries as a kind of micropayment.

Are you referring to M-PESA? I've heard it is very popular in Kenya. So popular that the government had to crack down on its use.

You mean the relationship where the bitcoin price creates a direct target of miners' energy usage, and in reverse, energy usage creates downward pressure on the price because miners have to sell to pay for the same energy usage?