AppliedAlgebraCourse

Getting started with Python/Numpy/SciPy

Follow the instructions here: https://github.com/UW-Madison-ACI/boot-camps/blob/2015-01-13/setup/README.md.

 For now you can disregard the sections on Shell and Git, just focusing on Python and an Editor

A short summary of these instructions:

1. You'll need to install Python on your machine. We recommend the Anaconda python distribution:

 https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/

During installation, make Anaconda your default Python installation (unless you have some reason not to do this).

2. You'll need a text editor to write Python in. Any text editor will work, but an editor that highlights Python keywords is handy, such as Text Wrangler or Sublime Text.

First steps

Once Python is installed, you're ready to get started! Open up a command line prompt (e.g. Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on OS X) and type

 ipython

to start an interactive Python shell. You can begin entering Python commands and manipulating variables immediately.

If you have no prior programming experience, I recommend you work through the Beginner Python tutorials below using ipython: as you read, type the commands into ipython. This will help you get a feel for what's happening.

Beginner Guide

http://hetland.org/writing/instant-hacking.html

http://www.ucs.cam.ac.uk/docs/course-notes/unix-courses/PythonAB

Intermediate Guide

http://software-carpentry.org/v5/novice/python/index.html

Additional Resources

https://github.com/UW-Madison-ACI/boot-camps

Homework #1

Download square.mat