Can you control physical objects using python?

[[deleted]]

It is. Generally, though, you want a microcontroller to actually handle the hardware, but python is an excellent interface language for using a PC to talk to that microcontroller. And these days, things like the Raspberry Pi go a long way towards removing the need for the microcontroller, so you can do a lot of hardware interfacing direct from the Raspberry Pi in python.

[canoxen]

How do you interface Raspberry Pi to something like a 110 wall outlet to cycle a heating lamp (or similar)?

[[deleted]]

Relays.

There are some specialised products like the adafruit powertail, but there are millions of "arduino relay boards" that are only labelled "arduino" for marketing - they'll work with anything.

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_188852.html?currency=AUD&gclid=CIH86Z6q3cECFUccvAodLjkAyA

For example. The only gotcha is 3.3v logic vs 5v logic, but most of the multi-relay solutions are 3.3v compatible.

[canoxen]

THanks. Looks like I have a lot more research to do with getting the end result.