===================== Basic Python Workshop ===================== This document is intended to be handed out at the end of the workshop. It has been designed for Engineering students who are Python beginners and have basic programming skills. The focus is on basic numerics and plotting using Python. The system requirements: * Python - version 2.5.x or newer. * IPython * Text editor - scite, vim, emacs or whatever you are comfortable with. Introduction ============ The Python programming language was created by a dutch named Guido van Rossum. The idea of Python was conceived in December 1989. The name Python has nothing to do with the reptilian, but its been named after the 70s comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus", since it happens to be Guido's favourite TV series. Current stable version of Python is 2.6.x, although Python 3.0 is also the stable version, it is not backwards compatible with the previous versions and is hence not entirely popular at the moment. This material contains material pertaining to the 2.6.x series. The Python Interpreter ======================