Software tools¶
To ensure a consistent coding environment we will be using GitHub Codespaces. GitHub Codespaces provide a cloud-based development environment for working on code. Free GitHub accounts come with 120 hours of Codespace time per month which should be plenty. You are welcome to use your own Python and git install, but you will be responsible for troubleshooting.
First visit jhale/finite-element-course and click Use this template
and then Create a new repository. Make your repository name
finite-element-course-2023 and make sure to click the Private box.
Next visit GitHub codespaces and click on New codespace. Select the repository you created above and leave everything else on the default settings.
The instructor will walk you through using the Codespace in class.
Python¶
Your implementation will be written in Python based on a code skeleton provided. This means that you’ll need a certain familiarity with the Python language. But don’t panic! Python is a very easy language to work with. This module will use Python 3.
If you haven’t done any Python before, then go through the official Python tutorial. If you have done a little Python but perhaps are not so familiar with the object-oriented features such as classes, then you might like to refer to the online book Object-oriented Programming in Python for Mathematicians. We will be using classes extensively in this course.
The Matlab-like array features of Python are provided by Numpy for which there is a helpful tutorial. There is also a handy guide for Matlab users. In that context, the code provided in this course will always use Numpy arrays, and never Numpy matrices.
Git¶
Version control is a mechanism for recording and managing different versions of changing software. This enables changes to be tracked and helps in the process of debugging code, and in managing conflicts when more than one person is working on the same project. Revision control can be combined with online hosting to provide secure backups and to enable you to work on code from different locations.
In this module, you’ll use verion control to access the skeleton files, and to update those files if and when they change. You’ll also use the same revision control system to record the edits you make over time and to submit your work for feedback and, eventually, marking.
We will be using the revision control system git, which is the current state of the art and is widely adopted. We’ll be combining git with the online hosting service GitHub.
The command line¶
A lot of the routine activity involved in this module revolves around executing commands on the command line. For example you use the command line to work with the revision control system.
If you’re not familiar with the Linux command line, then follow at least the first two sections of the Software Carpentry Unix Shell lesson. That guide focusses on the Bash shell, but zsh and the Windows Powershell use very similar commands.