In this course we will be working extensively with a computer programming language called Python.
Python is a general-purpose high-level interpreted language that is rapidly growing in popularity. Benefits of Python include:
- It’s easy to learn.
- The code tends to be simple and easy to read.
- It can run on just about any computer, maybe even your smartphone.
- You can run your code interactively, so it’s great for exploring and learning about your data.
- Lots of packages are available for powerful scientific computing and graphics.
- It’s completely free and open-source.
To get started, you need to install Python on your computer. We are going to use a program called Canopy. Canopy is a complete Python environment including Python itself, a handy editor for reading and writing code, and an interactive “shell” where you can run your code. If you’ve ever used MATLAB, this will look a bit familiar.
See “Installing Canopy” for step-by-step instructions.
Note:
I happen to think that learning any kind of programming is best done by trial and error, and I will structure the assignments accordingly.
The advice on this page sums up my feelings quite well: “The Hard Way is Easier”