python2024

Some notes on python - 2024 style

Lecture summary

In this hands-on lecture on the Python Ecosystem we will assume you are already (somewhat) familiar with python. Ideally you will already have a python environment on your laptop, so you can play along with the examples, but this is not required.

We will cover

• ipython (briefly)
• the spyder GUI
• Jupyter Notebooks, both running local and remote
• VS Code (if time permits)

A github repo https://github.com/astroumd/python2024 will be available with example codes covered in the lecture. This repo also contains the install_anaconda3 script, to simplify installation on various unix flavors. You can also head over to https://www.anaconda.com/ and do it yourself.

There is even a lightweight install_miniconda3 script, in case you want a handcrafted version that installs in 15 seconds.

Also consider the relative new https://github.com/jupyterlab/jupyterlab-desktop

Slides

A link to the slides is here, with the caveat of course I'm probably working on them as you read this:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1m7E1YHG9R1uwwJS7i7MHGwpsL3pILK6vvhLpTr1KUIg/edit?usp=sharing\

IPython

• magic
• profiles
• ...

Spyder

• plot
• fontsize
• ...
• Sync/Link a spyder python (py) file with a notebook (ipynb)

Jupyter Lab and Notebook

• jupyter-lab : the Lab
• jupyter notebook : notebook browser
• anaconda-navigator : the Anaconda Portal

Running a remote jupyter notebook

If the resources on your laptop are not enough, but your remote X display is too slow too (or not working), or even even VNC/x2go is not a solution, running a remote notebook may be the solution.

Here is a sample session:

   # login on the remote
   local% ssh user@remote

   # set up your python environment on the remote, YMMV
   remote% source anaconda3/python_start.sh

   # start up a notebook without local browser, but pick a free port number
   # watch the URL to be loaded later
   remote% jupyter notebook --no-browser --port=8086

   # set up port forwarding between laptop and remote, this will leave an open shell on remote
   local% ssh -L 8086:localhost:8086 user@remote
   local%

   # 
   local%  xdg-open http://localhost:8086/tree?token=blablablabla

Fun Things?

• The Vesuvius Challenge : https://scrollprize.org/
  • https://scrollprize.org/data
  • https://colab.research.google.com/github/ScrollPrize/vesuvius/blob/main/notebooks/example1_data_access.ipynb