07-10, 08:00–12:00 (America/Chicago), Classroom 103
Enjoy a gentle introduction to Python for folks who are completely new to it and may not have much experience programming. Learn how to write Python while practicing loops, if’s, functions, and usage of Python’s built-in features in a series of fun, interactive exercises inside Jupyter Notebooks. By the end you’ll be ready to write your own basic Python -- but most importantly, I want you to learn the form and vocabulary of Python so that you can understand Python documentation, interpret code written by others, and get the most out of other SciPy tutorials.
To make the most of SciPy it helps to have some basic familiarity with the Python language itself. This beginner level tutorial is designed for folks who are brand-new to Python and may not even have much programming experience. I’ll help you get a working Python installation in which you can launch Jupyter Notebooks, a common tool used in scientific research with Python and in SciPy tutorials.
Attendees will learn to work with Python variables, the object interface, loops, conditional statements, function definitions, and the use of basic Python data structures through hands-on exercises inside of Jupyter. Students will use the ipythonblocks library to manipulate an image-like grid of colors for immediate, interactive feedback that makes it easy to tell whether code had the intended effect.
My goal is for you to leave the tutorial with a basic familiarity with Python (and a working Python installation) that helps you focus on the scientific libraries you’ll learn about in the other tutorials and throughout SciPy. Familiarity with the usage and features of Jupyter will also help you dive headfirst into other tutorials.
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Installation Instructions –
Matt has been using Python to work with data in science and at startups since 2008, after getting degrees in Astronomy and Aerospace Engineering. He maintains some moderately popular open-source Python libraries, including SnakeViz and Palettable. Today Matt is the lead software engineer at Populus, a startup helping city governments manage various aspects of transportation.