Manuals and Guides and Programs
We're going to be using the Enthought distribution of Python in this class for Windows computers. If you are using a Macintosh, you'll (a) just use the lab for your assignments or (b) see below for Macintosh Support.
- We will be using SciPy (Scientific Python) for much of our processing in the class. It's a collection of enhancements for Python to support scientific and engineering computing. One of those enhancements is NumPy – Numeric Python. NumPy is designed to be highly compatible with Matlab. NumPy-for-MATLAB.pdf. Here's the general manual for NumPy numpy.pdf.
- OPTIONAL: The Enthought distribution of Python includes a plotting system called Chaco whose strength is creating interactive graphs, e.g., click on the state in the left window, and see a graph of data for that state on the right. Matplotlib will work just fine for us, but if you want to explore, you're welcome to use Chaco in this class. Chaco_Users_Guide.pdf. Powerpoint slides with a Chaco example: scipy05.ppt
Macintosh Support
- Download and install ActivePython (you'll have to register, but it's free). It's an updated version of Python with good things loaded in already (not as much as Enthought, but still a lot).
ActivePython gets installed in a somewhat odd place. To run it, from the Terminal, type /usr/local/bin/python
- Then, download and install the ScipySuperpack-ppc-10.4.dmg (or the Intel version, if you have a new MacBook) from http://homepage.mac.com/fonnesbeck/mac/index.html. This includes everything you need for MatPlotLib. You must be running from OS X 10.4 for this to work!
The ScipySuperpack includes four different mpkg's. Double click and install each of them in order: NumPy, Matplotlib, SciPy, and PyMC.
- If you don't have Freetype on your Mac, you'll need to install it. (I had it already, for use with LaTeX, so I didn't realize it was needed. Sorry!).
Then start up Python (from /usr/local/bin/python), and type from pylab import * and hit return. Ignore the errors you get. Then type plot([1,2,3,4]) and hit return. Again, ignore the errors. Then type show(). Poof! There's your plot! (Note that you'll have to close the figure window to get Python to respond again.) Control-D will end your Python session.
I found that restarting the computer led to all the errors going away.
Programs
