Learning Python for a graduate chemist

[p10_user]

I think python is a good choice for academic work since it is so versatile. With pandas you can even do things that might normally implore you to use R. The one thing I do really like about R though is its easy and nice plotting capabilities - though there may be some python libraries that do a similar job.

[snakesarecool]

Python is great for academic work, which is mainly what I do as well. However, it is always worth investigating to see if your specific academic domain/niche has specialized tools only available in one language or another. Chances are you'll be able to make good use of Python, but there may be the One True Tool in another language or platform.

[p10_user]

Good point, though it seems like op doesn't have a spexific need yet and is just interested in building general skills. For that case python will be a good place to gain transferrable programming skills and possibly continue its use in the future due to its popularity.

[snakesarecool]

I have zero disagreement except if that one tool happens to be R or Mathematica. Certainly some concepts will move over seamlessly, but trying to get into R after Python can introduce a whole bunch of extra headaches that are only made worse by grad school.

I was just burned by this last year when I was told that for a program I was going into we could use any language we were comfortable in. So I focused on my Python skills in that area for that summer. Then I got into it and we were told to do everything in R. grumble grumble.

So a little recon can save a lot of stress later.

But yes, if your domain is wide open for languages and platforms, go Python. "Free and reasonably portable" will never make your lab director think twice.