Python Installation and Basic Programming

Here we will assemble resources for learning Python, and for getting it and other programming-related software installed on your computer.

For a scientific programmer in Python, the absolute basics you need to have installed are:

• Python 3.X (note that 2.X still exists, but is deprecated)
• NumPy: a package for fast numerical array processing
• Matplotlib: a package for generating publication-quality plots
• GIT: a revision-control program for downloading software packages and keeping tabs on your own code changes. Not just for Python.

To get scipy, numpy, python, and a lot of other useful python packages altogether, there are several standard bundle installers. Mamba is pretty standard.

• Mamba

Python

Links

• The Python Tutorial
• Software Carpentry: Plotting and Programming in Python
• Kara Kundert's Introduction to Python and Plotting
• Peter Williams A Python Bungee Jump

GIT

Please see the Revision Control page,