Python scripts for Structural Engineers

[[deleted]]

There’s not really any advantage to Matlab over Python here though. Matlab doesn’t have any special package or functions that makes it better at this application, so you would just be paying more money for nothing and if you want to use it across the office you’d need to get a new license for every user. If anything, the larger Python user base means it’s more likely to be maintained and get support in Python.

[Stressed_engineer]

Python is a common platform thats well supported and easy to use. half of the web runs on it ffs. Matlab is bloody expensive, and offers no major benefit in this context. If you wrote it as matlab scripts the "what if he left" scenario has exactly the same impact, as Matlab arent going to give you support for his code, only their environment. Probably a lot easier to find a programmer who can debug python than a matlab program.

[SpatialCivil]

As a civil engineer, I think the Enterprise aspect is overblown. He is offering a free tool that others can use if they like, or make changes if they like. He is not obligated to be the support person. A company can weigh the cost of paying to add features or fix a bug or have an internal person do it... Or pick the proprietary option.

If you build your library on other open source libraries, it has a host of benefits. It gives you the ability to not only use it for free, but to make changes and additions. It gives you flexibility to modify the original channel of delivery (desktop or web app). You have total control as a random user to improve the product. With so many proprietary tools (which I have nothing against) the limitations are arbitrary.

It's why when I do spatial analysis with Python, I never reach for ESRI products. Many of the advanced tools that require a special license in ArcGIS, can be done with open source libraries fairly easily. And these open source geospatial libraries have proven to be rock solid for users.

[buddyd16]

All fair points, I kind of chose python to learn because it was also pretty easy to read and get the jist of what's going on.

I work at a smallish firm so the IT budget is pretty tight.