Mailman 3 August 2015 - Edu-sig

Re: [Edu-sig] Edu-sig Digest, Vol 145, Issue 8
by Marianne McKenna Aug. 23, 2015

Aug. 23, 2015

I am away from the office . I will try to respond by email. If you need immediate help, please contact tech support. Thanks!

1 0

Python inter-op in JVM especially
by kirby urner Aug. 22, 2015

Aug. 22, 2015

I don't think it's beyond the pale, for edu-sig even, to include some threads on how Python might be used in ecosystems with other languages that share the same VM, the two main ones being: (a) .NET (including www.mono-project.com) and (b) JVM Python versions for both (a) and (b) already out there... plus CPython's VM is also in a sense shared with Hy (https://lwn.net/Articles/596626/) and what else? The JVM is looking especially promising with Clojure able to import a Jython interpreter into itself by means of Java inter-op. Run Python code in Clojure! The integration is getting tighter thanks to this Clojar: https://clojars.org/clojure-python https://github.com/rplevy/clojure-python Now I'm looking at this: http://halgari.github.io/clojure-py/ Lots going on! Exciting! Kirby PS: more regarding my on-going theme here on edu-sig (aka "Tractor Art"): http://mybizmo.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-farmer-in-dell.html

1 0

hardware hacking
by kirby urner Aug. 15, 2015

Aug. 15, 2015

A highlight of OSCON for me: Pingo means "pin, go!": Universal IoT programming in Python by Luciano Ramalho (Python.pro.br) http://www.oscon.com/open-source-2015/public/schedule/detail/40410 I'm not any good at hardware hacking at this time in my life, though I used to coach a Lego Mindstorms team in the old days. My daughter on the other hand is in the middle of this stuff. I'll share the link as it's cutting edge stuff these days in STEM circles (controlling these devices, turning them into serious instruments): http://earlham.edu/news/article/?id=37371&r=14619 I just got the OSCON video package which is awesome. Some of these may get to Youtube by permission of the speakers and OSCON e.g. my co-worker Patrick Barton delivered this talk: http://www.oscon.com/open-source-2015/public/schedule/detail/41508 He told me yesterday he hopes to share it on Youtube. High school aged students might be interested in electrical utility management given a SimCity background! Patrick applies machine learning using Python tools (from Numenta). http://mathforum.org/kb/message.jspa?messageID=9735383 (more about simulations games in education) Kirby

1 0

new Education WG within Python.org (i.e. PSF board authorized)
by kirby urner Aug. 12, 2015

Aug. 12, 2015

For those who haven't heard: https://wiki.python.org/psf/PythonEduWG My plate is full with python-cuba (another WG) etc. however I'll be monitoring the archives and maybe joining in a less busy period. Kirby

1 0

Quadrays again... cross-training in two langauges
by Kirby Urner Aug. 10, 2015

Aug. 10, 2015

I've posted about Quadrays on edu-sig before.... going back and forth between two languages may be a good way to learn both, or to learn one using one's knowledge of the other. In this case, I'm developing the same Quadray class in Python and Clojure. I'll followup with a link to the Clojure version. I'm just beginning with that language and I'm hoping the experts pick it apart some, as I'm sure it's not as Pythonic as it could be. :-D ... actually three languages if you find the links to the C++ version. Kirby """ (cl) K. Urner, MIT License 2015 Python -> Java -> Clojure curriculum 2D + 3D Graphics: Martian Math Topic: Quadrays http://www.grunch.net/synergetics/quadintro.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadray_coordinates Asynchronous Learning Engine (Open Source project) http://controlroom.blogspot.com/2015/08/asynchronous-learning-engine-ale.ht… """ from math import sqrt class Quadray: def __init__(self, OA, OB, OC, OD): self.OA = OA self.OB = OB self.OC = OC self.OD = OD self._norm() def _norm(self): """ Quadrays have at least one element = 0 as one direction is inactive per quadrant """ the_min = min(self.OA, self.OB, self.OC, self.OD) self.OA = self.OA - the_min self.OB = self.OB - the_min self.OC = self.OC - the_min self.OD = self.OD - the_min def __neg__(self): return Quadray(-self.OA, -self.OB, -self.OC, -self.OD) def __add__(self, other): return Quadray(self.OA + other.OA, self.OB + other.OB, self.OC + other.OC, self.OD + other.OD) def __sub__(self, other): return self + (-other) def len(self): """ uses Tom Ace normalization such that the sum of the elements is 0. Simplifies the distance formula, which is set at Edge of Unit Tetra = 2 i.e. D(1,0,0,0) == math.sqrt(6)/2 Tom Ace: http://www.minortriad.com/index.html """ k = sum([self.OA, self.OB, self.OC, self.OD]) / 4.0 t0, t1, t2, t3 = self.OA - k, self.OB - k, self.OC - k, self.OD - k return sqrt(2) * sqrt(sum([t0**2, t1**2, t2**2, t3**2])) def __repr__(self): return 'Quadray(%s, %s, %s, %s)' % (self.OA, self.OB, self.OC, self.OD) v0 = Quadray(1,0,0,0) v1 = Quadray(0,1,0,0) print(v0 - v1) print(v0 + v1) print(-v1) print(v1.len()) # math.sqrt(6)/2 print(-v1.len() + v1.len()) print((v1-v1).len())

3 8

trails through the ecosystem: language sequence
by kirby urner Aug. 1, 2015

Aug. 1, 2015

Thinking of how I might design a robust computer science learning thread using today's open source tools. See caveats at the bottom. Python is oft circled as a great first language, but then what? From a practical standpoint, I'd say: leverage your Python to tackle a second OO language: Java (not JavaScript yet). Then leverage your Java, which need not be super polished, to tackle Clojure. That'll be a first LISP-family language and will start to formalize ground covered, making the concepts more clear. Pick up concurrency concepts here. Finally: back to Python i.e. take what you've learned on this circle tour to move into concurrency with Python if you wish, and with new fondness for a LISPish mindset. From here you're ready to branch to whatever your career calls for: more C family? More Apache stuff (Tomcat?). I'd say you've got even going on the language side with this point to start tackling DB world and its SQL/noSQL APIs. In sum: Python first Bridge to Java Tackle concurrency in Clojure (runs on JVM) back to Python, add more layers and polish === DB stuff: SQL + noSQL In between all this comes installation and simple sysadmin devops baby steps i.e. just learning the above interactively will bring an OS shell and perhaps an IDE into focus. Speaking of IDEs, that's a good place to introduce version control, where you can back end your code plane (screens) straight into some repository. Caveats: Note that I'm not talking about theory, not trying to outline general principles, hardware abstractions, parsing / compiling (back to theory of data structures, parse trees etc.). I'm imagining all that as content and/or background, while the above simply tracks an evolving skills set in terms of language and exposure to specific APIs. An alternative would be a more traditional LAMP stack approach, which still works as a thumbnail guide: L -- OS level on down to hardware A -- All lower level server processes e.g. httpd M -- Persistence Layer (keeping / updating state) P -- Application layer (hosted processes e.g. PHP's) i.e. it remains useful to break it down that way. Kirby

2 4