Re: [Tutor] Elegant argument index sort
Dinesh B Vadhia wrote: I'm sorting a 1-d (NumPy) matrix array (a) and wanting the index results (b). I can't tell from your comments and code what you want. Please provide a better explanation and give an example of input and output numbers. Also I am not familiar with argsort. This is what I have: b = a.argsort(0) b = b+1 The one (1) is added to b so that there isn't a zero index element. Is there a more elegant way to do this? ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
wesley chun wrote: michael's and david's book spends a bit more time introducing the concepts of OOP/OOD more carefully and more though If it had been half the price I'd have bought it for a strong exposition of OO principles in Python. However at less than 700pp and c. £54 in the UK it won't be added to my bookshelf. most aspects of the selling of a book (including its cover price) is almost -always out of the control of the author(s). I wasn't necessarily accusing the authors of anything, how could I? I expect marketing thought they'd get more money this way. As a previous poster said it's probably priced for academic use. I also realise the cost of producing books etc If I were allocating books for students I would still spare them the exorbitant cost of this and recommend one or both of the other books. They could even get 'Core' + 'Programming'(Lutz), over 2000 quality pages for less then the price of this. And I'm quite sure any educational establishment worthy of the name would bridge any gaps. No disrespect to the authors or for what may be an excellent book but not for me. And I think it's a shame - if it specialised in the OOP aspects - at half the price it would have been a worthy addition to the beginners' library. Just my opinion Eddie ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Elegant argument index sort
Dinesh B Vadhia wrote: I'm sorting a 1-d (NumPy) matrix array (a) and wanting the index results (b). This is what I have: b = a.argsort(0) b = b+1 The one (1) is added to b so that there isn't a zero index element. Is there a more elegant way to do this? b = a.argsort(0) + 1 ? Kent ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
It look great.. but being a student I can't afford such a high priced item. I guess I will have to wait for the used copies to show up on amazon :). Danyelle ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
Danyelle Gragsone wrote: It look great.. but being a student I can't afford such a high priced item. I guess I will have to wait for the used copies to show up on amazon :). FWIW this book is available to anyone with a .edu email address for $71.53 plus shipping, from http://www.a1books.com/cgi-bin/mktSearch?act=showDescitemcode=0136150314 A little more ($75.29) without a .edu email but still the best price found by BestBookDeal: http://www.bestbookdeal.com/book/compare/0136150314/ Kent ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
I wonder what schools offer python as a course. Sadly all the colleges here offer only perl. :( ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
On Thursday November 8, 2007, bhaaluu wrote: I asked if the source code for the textbook is available for download? One of the best ways to judge the quality of a textbook is by the example source code. I also asked if a sample chapter was available to read? Sometimes an author's writing style just doesn't click (too bad for students who HAVE TO buy the textbook for a class -- then they have to suffer through it). But for others, studying on their own, being able to read a sample chapter and look at the example source code might be the stimulus to buy the book (even at $102/$71.53/$whatever). OTOH, having a look at the example source, and a sample chapter might be a good enough reason not to touch the book with a 10 foot pole! It can go either way Thats a great idea. I'll contact our publisher today so that we can get full source code from the entire book up on their website. I'm not sure of their willingness for a sample chapter, but will ask about that as well. With regard, Michael +---+ | Michael Goldwasser| | Associate Professor | | Dept. Mathematics and Computer Science| | Saint Louis University| | 220 North Grand Blvd. | | St. Louis, MO 63103-2007 | | | | Office: Ritter Hall 6 | | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | URL:euler.slu.edu/~goldwasser | | Phone: (314) 977-7039| | Fax:(314) 977-1452| +---+ ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
Michael H. Goldwasser [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote to suffer through it). But for others, studying on their own, being able to read a sample chapter and look at the example source code might be the stimulus to buy the book Thats a great idea. I'll contact our publisher today so that we can get full source code from the entire book up on their website. I'm not sure of their willingness for a sample chapter, but will ask about that as well. Its not an unusual thing - the Amazon Look Inside logo is widely used and is usually more helpful than a hindrance in getting sales. In fact the ideal for you is probably to try to get them to put the sample chapter on Amazon because more folks will look there than on the publisher's own web site! If they are going to rely purely on academic sales then that will greatly reduce their marketplace (and your royalties!) -- Alan Gauld Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] From Numpy Import *
Thank-you! It is important for us to avoid potential code conflicts and so we'll standardize on the import package name syntax. On a related note: We are using both NumPy and SciPy. Consider the example y = Ax where A is a sparse matrix. If A is qualified as a scipy object then do y and x also have to be scipy objects or can they be numpy objects? Dinesh - Original Message - From: Michael H. Goldwasser To: Dinesh B Vadhia Cc: tutor@python.org Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 5:37 PM Subject: [Tutor] From Numpy Import * On Wednesday November 7, 2007, Dinesh B Vadhia wrote: Hello! The standard Python practice for importing modules is, for example: import sys import os etc. In NumPy (and SciPy) the 'book' suggests using: from numpy import * from scipy import * However, when I instead use 'import numpy' it causes all sorts of errors in my existing code. The issue is the following. The numpy module includes many definitions, for example a class named array. When you use the syntax, from numpy import * That takes all definitions from the module and places them into your current namespace. At this point, it would be fine to use a command such as values = array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0]) which instantiates a (numpy) array. If you instead use the syntax import numpy things brings that module as a whole into your namespace, but to access definitions from that module you have to give a qualified name, for example as values = numpy.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0]) You cannot simply use the word array as in the first scenario. This would explain why your existing code would no longer work with the change. What do you suggest? The advantage of the from numpy import * syntax is mostly convenience. However, the better style is import numpy precisely becuase it does not automatically introduce many other definitions into your current namespace. If you were using some other package that also defined an array and then you were to use the from numpy import *, the new definition would override the other definition. The use of qualified names helps to avoid these collisions and makes clear where those definitions are coming from. With regard, Michael ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
This is why I am going for programming instead of just CS. I am a very hands on person.. although I know theory is good.. I just think it needs to be evened out a bit :D. ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
Chris Calloway [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote teach languages. Teaching languages is frowned upon in some computer science departments under the logic that if you belong in a computer science class, you'd better show up for class already knowing something as easy to grasp as an implementation language. I don't like CS courses to focus on a language either, but neither do I think we should expect students to already know one. But learning a computer language should be a trivial exercise once you understand the CS concepts of algorithms and data and I/O etc. One of the worst things I find as an employer is the number of CS grads I get to interview who insist they only know one language. I wonder what they learned at college. That's like an electronics engineer saying he only knows how to solder, or a civil engineer who only knows how to lay bricks! A CS course should concentrate on principles and theory and learning languages should be a practical detail that the student does almost by osmosis. And this is, of course, why my tutorial teaches three languages not just python ;-) -- Alan Gauld Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
I wonder what schools offer python as a course. Sadly all the colleges here offer only perl. Danyelle's question brings up an issue i have, and that is that courses in colleges are typically computer science courses, at least at the university level. there really aren't any programming language courses, or at least, not when i was in college. a regular CS course is where you learn the fundamentals but then implement your projects/homework in a chosen language (or 2), such as Java and Scheme. courses that *do* teach specific languages are usually electives and not part of the core curriculum. one of the best things about Python, as you are all aware, is that it is so diet, that students get to focus on learning the key/core concepts of computer science without getting bogged down by difficult syntax, data structure, or memory mgmt issues. On 11/8/07, bhaaluu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Another way to judge how the book is, is by reading the posts the author sends to THIS list in order to help people. Mr. Chun and Mr. Gauld are two authors who provide help on this list. I certainly don't mind if they advertise their books on occassion -- they are also Tutors! just my $0.02, -- wesley - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Core Python Programming, Prentice Hall, (c)2007,2001 http://corepython.com wesley.j.chun :: wescpy-at-gmail.com python training and technical consulting cyberweb.consulting : silicon valley, ca http://cyberwebconsulting.com ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote on 11/08/2007 05:19:59 PM: Chris Calloway [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote teach languages. Teaching languages is frowned upon in some computer science departments under the logic that if you belong in a computer science class, you'd better show up for class already knowing something as easy to grasp as an implementation language. I don't like CS courses to focus on a language either, but neither do I think we should expect students to already know one. But learning a computer language should be a trivial exercise once you understand the CS concepts of algorithms and data and I/O etc. One of the worst things I find as an employer is the number of CS grads I get to interview who insist they only know one language. I wonder what they learned at college. That's like an electronics engineer saying he only knows how to solder, or a civil engineer who only knows how to lay bricks! A CS course should concentrate on principles and theory and learning languages should be a practical detail that the student does almost by osmosis. And this is, of course, why my tutorial teaches three languages not just python ;-) -- Alan Gauld Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld One of the worse things I found as a recent job hunter, was the number of employers who are not willing to accept that after completing a CS program that focuses on the science of CS, learning the language they are using is a trivial exercise. On the plus side it helps identify the companies I didn't want to work for. Chris Henk___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
apologies... meant to click the save now button but inadvertently hit send instead... On 11/8/07, bhaaluu [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Another way to judge how the book is, is by reading the posts the author sends to THIS list in order to help people. Mr. Chun and Mr. Gauld are two authors who provide help on this list. I certainly don't mind if they advertise their books on occassion -- they are also Tutors! nah... that's a conflict of interest... the book can sell itself. :-) *but* it surely doesn't hurt to ask alan to update his book to a 2nd ed! ;) *nudge* -wesley ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] New Introductory Book
Danyelle Gragsone wrote: I wonder what schools offer python as a course. It has been rather widely publicized of late that MIT this year switched all their incoming computer science and electrical engineering students to Python (from Lisp) as their introductory programming language. They use this well regarded $26.40 textbook: http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Computer-Science/dp/1887902996/ There is a computer science department at my university. They don't teach languages. Teaching languages is frowned upon in some computer science departments under the logic that if you belong in a computer science class, you'd better show up for class already knowing something as easy to grasp as an implementation language. Some computer science courses at my university have an implementation language used in the class. I've noticed both Python and Lisp used. -- Sincerely, Chris Calloway http://www.seacoos.org office: 332 Chapman Hall phone: (919) 962-4323 mail: Campus Box #3300, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
