Friday, September 27, 2019

WEEK 1: Intro and scope

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Next time we meet in Neckers 156 (downstairs),  Same time: Friday 3 PM.


PLAN FOR THE NEXT WEEK
  1. Part 1 (10-15 min): a short introduction to LaTeX.  Suggestion: install MikTex on your computer, or make an account in OverLeaf (see below for links to both).
  1. Part 2:  How to do first simple operations with Jupyter. Install it on your computer following the hints from the last meeting. Or simply click on the link below and follow the instructions. Some notebooks are available through http://ziglilucien.github.io  Click Contents and then NOTEBOOKS.

TOOLS

Basic tools that we will learn follow.
(The list is incomplete, suggest other programs)

Calculating
  • Jupyter - open-source software based on Python and coming with a "notebook" (free)
  • QB64 -- new version of QBASIC, an old simple programming language.  Perfect for beginners and for checking out some hypotheses quickly and effortlessly. Includes graphics (free).
  • Maple -- heavy duty symbolic calculations (not free....)
Writing
  • MikTex -- a friendly distribution of Latex (free) 
  • OverLeaf -- online implementation of LaTeX (free up to two collaborators) 
Geometry (all free)
  • Processing -- stand alone program (for artists and scientist) 
  • Processing.js -- a version for incorporation into browse 
  • P5.js -- newest version of Processing-like  program
  • Cinderella -- great for experimentation in Euclidean (and not only) geometry  
  • Cindy.js -- same, rewritten in js for easy embedding in web pages