Difference between revisions of "Python"
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== Python == | == Python == | ||
| − | Python is a popular scripting language. It is on the top | + | Python is a popular scripting language. It is on the top 5 of the [http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html TIOBE index], and is very popular in scientific computing, in some fields more popular than commercial platforms like Matlab or Mathematica. |
| − | * Check out the [http://www.python.org Python website] for more information | + | * Check out the [http://www.python.org Python website] for more information about Python itself, but don't download Python from that website! |
=== Installation === | === Installation === | ||
| − | * | + | * The MPR module uses [https://www.continuum.io/downloads Anaconda]. This is a distribution which supplies a full scientific programming environment. There is a local mirror of that [http://ftp.ee.up.ac.za/pub/windows/python/ here]. Use Anaconda3. |
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=== Python 2 vs Python 3 === | === Python 2 vs Python 3 === | ||
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Python 3 came out in 2008. The problem was that it was not backwards compatible with all Python 2 programs. This delayed adoption, especially in the scientific community. There is probably no reason to use Python 2 any more. | Python 3 came out in 2008. The problem was that it was not backwards compatible with all Python 2 programs. This delayed adoption, especially in the scientific community. There is probably no reason to use Python 2 any more. | ||
Revision as of 16:58, 9 March 2017
Contents
Python
Python is a popular scripting language. It is on the top 5 of the TIOBE index, and is very popular in scientific computing, in some fields more popular than commercial platforms like Matlab or Mathematica.
- Check out the Python website for more information about Python itself, but don't download Python from that website!
Installation
- The MPR module uses Anaconda. This is a distribution which supplies a full scientific programming environment. There is a local mirror of that here. Use Anaconda3.
Python 2 vs Python 3
Python 3 came out in 2008. The problem was that it was not backwards compatible with all Python 2 programs. This delayed adoption, especially in the scientific community. There is probably no reason to use Python 2 any more.
Scientific computing
Numeric calculations are done using the NumPy or SciPy modules. Here is a handy starting point for someone used to Matlab/Octave to get into NumpPy/Scipy.
- Numpy/SciPy for Matlab/Octave users. Like a Rosetta stone.
- More detailed SciPy lectures
Plotting is done using the matplotlib library. The website contains documentation as well as a large gallery of examples.
The SciPy website also has a lot of examples in their Cookbook. Topical ones include
The department also maintains a small cookbook notebook.
Thermo-Physical Properties of Materials
Have a look at CoolProp. It is a thermo-physical property database with properties of many common pure substances. It has a python package as well as an Excel add-in.
Symbolic computing
The sympy module is a very capable symbolic module for Python. It plays well with the IPython notebook
