Day 1 – Lesson 1
Getting Started
Python Mini-Course
University of Oklahoma
Department of Psychology
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
4/5/09
Lesson objectives
1. Describe what Python is
2. Understand how Python can
be used in behavioral science
3. Install Python and add-ins
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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What is Python?
 General purpose computer
programming language
 Has math and science add-ins
 Has GUI add-ins
 Multi-platform
 Same program can run on MS
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, etc.
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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What can I do with Python?
 Write programs to run
experiments
 Example: Trivia Lag Expt
 Computational modeling
 Example: fSAMpy
 Statistical analyses
 Example: bootstrapping
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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What can I do with Python?
 Data processing and analysis
 PyParse (Kahana lab)
 fMRI (Waisman Brain Imaging Lab)
 Just about anything else you
can think of
 Games, graphics, audio apps,
even cell phone apps
(http://www.awaretek.com/pymo.html)
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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How does Python compare:
 Other languages (C, C++,
Visual Basic, Java, etc.)
 Python is easier to learn
 Python is just as powerful
 Python is NOT as widely used
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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How does Python compare:
 Scientific computing packages
(Matlab and Mathematica)
 Statistical packages (SAS,
SPSS, R, etc.)
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Python is
FREE
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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How to get and install Python
 We’re going to install several
components:
 Python – the main language
 wxPython – for building and
running GUIs
 NumPy and SciPy – for numeric
and scientific computing
 SPE (Stani’s Python Editor)
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing Python
 www.python.org/download/rele
ases/2.5.4
 Find your platform (Windows or
MacOS X) and click on the
download link
 Save the file to your hard drive
 Run the installer program
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing wxPython
 http://www.wxpython.org/dow
nload.php
 Windows
 download “win32-unicode”
 MacOS X
 download “osx-unicode”
 Save the install file, then run it
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing NumPy
 http://numpy.scipy.org/
 Click on the download link
 Download numpy-1.3.0rc2 for
your platform and Python
version
 Run the install file
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing SciPy
 http://sourceforge.net/project/
showfiles.php?group_id=27747
 Click on the download link
 Download scipy0.7.0 for your
platform and Python version
 Run the install file
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing SPE
 For MS Windows:
 http://prdownload.berlios.de/python/SPE-
0.8.4.c-wx2.6.1.0-no_setup.zip
 Unzip it to somewhere you will
remember (e.g., Program Files) but
don’t rename the folder anything other
than “_spe”.
 Go inside the _spe directory you just
created and double click SPE.py
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Installing SPE
 For Mac OS X:
 http://olczyk.krzysztof.googlepages.com/SPE
.dmg
 Save the file, mount the disk
image, and follow the instructions
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Python Mini-Course: Day 1 - Lesson 1
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Python resources
 www.python.org
 http://python.org/doc/2.5/tut/t
ut.html
 www.scipy.org
 http://numpy.scipy.org
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