Tools/Python Tools
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Python can be used to achieve results similar to Octave or Matlab, but with the advantages of a fundamentally object-oriented general-purpose language. Additionally to numerical computation, packages allow to solve linear systems.
Numerical computation with Python mainly bases on the following libraries:
- NumPy for arrays, linear algebra, ...
- SciPy depends on NumPy, used to manipulate numbers, for signal processing, ...
- matplotlib for 2D plots
PyLab integrates these 3 libraries.
The Spyder IDE provides a MATLAB-like development interface. As a simple alternative, IPython provides a web-based GUI and Mathematica-like notebooks.
Installation
Mac OS
Donload Spyder.
Copy the application to the Applications folder.
Launch Spyder, and in the console type:
t = linspace(0, 10, 100); plot(t, sin(t));
Linux
Installation can be done on a package basis, with pip. An alternative would be easy_install.
Install the IDE:
sudo apt-get install spyder
This also installs numPy, sciPy and matplotlib.
Launch Spyder, and in the console type:
t = linspace(0, 10, 100); plot(t, sin(t));
Windows
Download Python(x,y) to install Python and other components of your choice.
Python(x,y) 2.7.3.1
During the installation make sure to have pip selected in the list of available Python modules.
Spyder IDE
Spyder (Scientific PYthon Development EnviRonment) is an IDE similar to the one you get with Matlab or Octave. This means you get an editor, a console, online help, variable explorer and much more. With Python(x,y) 2.7.3.1 you get Spyder v. 2.1.11. We recommend however to upgrade to the newest version.
First you have to remove the old one first.
pip uninstall spyder
and then install the newest Spyder (at the time of writing this: v. 2.2.0rc) with
pip install spyder
NumPy
[Numerical Python]
SciPy
Matplotlib
Install the newest version (v1.2.1 is not recommended) of matplotlib
