Programming with Python

Initial Tasks:

• Please sit near the front
• Course notes:
  • https://uomresearchit.github.io/programming_with_python
• To open these slides:
  • www.slides.com/douglowe/advanced-python

Feedback

• Note: there is no attendance sheet - please complete the feedback instead
  
• Constructive comments and suggestions are very welcome
• If you would recommend the course, please feel free to tweet: @UoM_eResearch

Research-related IT Services

Described on IT Services website.

Announcements on the Research IT blog.

• Training courses teaching computing skills for Research
• General guidance and advice about research software
• Access to specialist support and consultancy e.g. code reviews
• Access to High Performance Computing (HPC) systems
• Data storage and management
• Full list of services on offer

For help and support use the Support Centre

Housekeeping

• (Rough) Course timing
  • 09:30 -- 10:45
  •      coffee
  • 11:00 -- 12:30
  •      lunch
  • 13:30 -- 14:45
  •      coffee
  • 15:00 -- 16:30

Aims of the day

• Strengthening python knowledge, oriented towards python numerical tools

• We will not teach all of Python or all data analysis with Python

• The aim is to teach you enough, so you know how to find out more

Course Schedule

1. Python Essentials
2. Dictionaries
3. Numpy Essentials
4. Conda Package Management
5. Defensive Programming
6. Units & Quantities
7. Pandas Essential

Teaching methods

• Interactive workshop-style course
  • Based on Software Carpentry method
  • Type along with the examples
  • Test your understanding in the exercise sessions
• Course notes
  • All examples and exercises are in the notes
  • Slides will remain online after the course

Getting help

• Sticky notes
  • Used for getting help and giving real-time feedback
  • Yellow = OK / ready to go
  • Pink = not OK (too fast, didn't understand, computer says no etc)
• Please interrupt me to ask questions
• Peer learning
  • During exercises, please help each other as required
  • Please try to be quiet during worked examples so everyone can hear

Creating your Workspace

• Launch Anaconda Prompt from start menu

• Create a directory:

  • mkdir C:\Work\python-programming

• Download the course material:

  • https://uomresearchit.github.io/programming_with_python/data/python-intermediate-data.zip

  • click 'Clone or Download', then 'Download ZIP'

  • save to the new 'python-programming' folder

• Unzip the file

• NOTE: Do not use the P drive. This will cause problems with Jupyter.

Starting Python Interpreters

Using Jupyter:

• Launch Anaconda prompt from the Start Menu

• Change to your working directory

  • cd C:\Work\python-programming

• Start Jupyter program

  • jupyter notebook

Starting Spyder

Using Spyder:

• Launch Terminal from the start menu

• install spyder (in a new environment) using conda:

  • conda create -n spyder spyder

• start new environment

  • . activate spyder

• start spyder

  • spyder