Getting started with Scientific Programming

[functionspace]

http://functionspace.org/articles/4/Getting-started-with-Scientific-Programming

[japaget]

The article refers to the Synaptic Package Manager, which is available on many Debian-based Linux distros. Your OS may use something different. The general instructions in the article on using Python with SciPy, NumPy, Maxima, and MatPlotLib and should work with any OS, including Windows and Mac OS X.

[takluyver → japaget]

There are more general instructions for getting these tools set up here: http://www.scipy.org/install.html

[expaand]

I would add to this excellent intro: pandas, for doing data analysis, and the fabulous ipython notebook for easily interacting with your computations.

[mathattack]

Very useful introduction!