travis-ci no longer supports python 2.5

http://blog.travis-ci.com/2013-11-18-upcoming-build-environment-updates/

> Python 2.5 has been removed due to very low overall usage and
> breaking changes in pip and virtualenv.

Removal makes me sad because RHEL 5 uses python 2.5.
provide config for editorconfig plugins

* If a dev adds an editorconfig plugin to their editor,
  automatically configure their editor for code style.

* Specify 4-space softtabs so new code will be compatible
  with Python 3.

* Put the same settings in .gitattributes so git diff
  highlights whitespace errors.
add nose tests for syntax errors