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The first line: "Nowadays Python is probably the programming language of choice (besides R) ..." Personally I am not ready to hand the title "langauge of choic

The first line: "Nowadays Python is probably the programming language of choice (besides R) ..." Personally I am not ready to hand the title "langauge of choice" to Python, although it is trending that way. We should give R credit where credit is due. There is still a huge population of R users and code. Python has advantages in that the syntax is easier to understand, and so is the structure (object oriented versus scripting). What Python lacks is a simple setup. I think that once Python becomes more accessible to everyone (as far as downloading Python, setting up directories, packages, libraries, etc.), it will have huge leaps in usage.

gms7777 13y ago
I've heard good things about the anaconda distribution as far as setup and everything goes for scientific computation purposes. Comes with most packages you'd need: https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/ https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/ I don't actually have it myself, but it does seem to be trying to solve the problem you point out.
- washedup 13y ago
  That's great! If this can match RStudio as an IDE, then Python is heading in the right direction. Thanks for showing me this.
  - gallamine 13y ago
    Anaconda is a fabulous way of installing a majority of Python tools you'd need for data science. It also includes Spyder - a Matlab-like IDE. Before you go back to RStudio, you should at least check out the IPython Notebooks style workflow. It grows on you. PyCharm is anothe IDE I've been looking at - it has a free community edition too.
  - hogu 13y ago
    in the short term, you should check out spyder http://code.google.com/p/spyderlib/ http://code.google.com/p/spyderlib/ we ship it with anaconda
- elliott34 13y ago
  This is amazing! I'm happy I came across this comment. I've always been frustrated installing python packages as a python newbie. in R (in R studio) it was always just search and click, and, suddenly, "I know Kung-Fu" like Neo in the matrix, except, err, "I know ggplot2."

gms7777 13y ago

I've heard good things about the anaconda distribution as far as setup and everything goes for scientific computation purposes. Comes with most packages you'd need: https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/ https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/ I don't actually have it myself, but it does seem to be trying to solve the problem you point out.

washedup 13y ago
That's great! If this can match RStudio as an IDE, then Python is heading in the right direction. Thanks for showing me this.
- gallamine 13y ago
  Anaconda is a fabulous way of installing a majority of Python tools you'd need for data science. It also includes Spyder - a Matlab-like IDE. Before you go back to RStudio, you should at least check out the IPython Notebooks style workflow. It grows on you. PyCharm is anothe IDE I've been looking at - it has a free community edition too.
- hogu 13y ago
  in the short term, you should check out spyder http://code.google.com/p/spyderlib/ http://code.google.com/p/spyderlib/ we ship it with anaconda
elliott34 13y ago
This is amazing! I'm happy I came across this comment. I've always been frustrated installing python packages as a python newbie. in R (in R studio) it was always just search and click, and, suddenly, "I know Kung-Fu" like Neo in the matrix, except, err, "I know ggplot2."