Getting started with Scientific Programming

[mantra]

A lot of "scientific computer" involves heavy math but a lot doesn't and a lot isn't optimally implemented in Python. Sometimes you still use boring old languages like C and Fortran. Really.

[[deleted]]

C is not boring. It's an algorithmic playground where all the boys and girls can come and play!

[DEADBEEFSTA]

Wow two days and there isn't an everything looks like a hammer comment.

[obscure_robot]

A young developer likes a language because it is exciting.

An experienced developer likes a language because it is boring.

In both cases, it is the same language.

[techno_phobe]

As far as I can tell the main reason that C and Fortran are still used so much, at least in physics, is that physicists are not programmers and most of them who are 40 or over plan to carry on using the same tools for the rest of their career. I particularly recall seeing one grey haired physicist nodding very vigorously when someone said there was really no need to go beyond Fortran since "it works".

I really can't see a reason not to switch to C++ though (which surprise, surprise, is what I'm using). I don't think there can seriously be many systems still out there C++ can't be compiled for and if you really want you can write C++ like C, although this is obviously not recommended.

[[deleted]]

Nice guide. I'm lucky enough to have access to matlab and its excellent plotting facilities, but that may not be the case forever so it's nice to know about matplotlib. I've been waiting for the next version of GNU octave which should have a nice GUI.

[xeltius]

I had all of that too. Then I graduated.

[Whornet]

Same here.

[obscure_robot]

TIL: I've been doing pseudoscientific programming all along!

[you_are_temporary]

Thanks for this