help: confused about python flavors....

[Mark Lawrence]

On 07/03/2012 06:24, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> On Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:06:37 -0800, amar Singh wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am confused between plain python, numpy, scipy, pylab, matplotlib.
>
> Python is a programming language. It comes standard with many libraries
> for doing basic mathematics, web access, email, etc.
>
> Numpy is a library for doing scientific numerical maths work and fast
> processing of numeric arrays.
>
> Scipy is another library for scientific work. It is separate from, but
> uses, Numpy.
>
> Matplotlib is a project for making graphing and plotting of numeric data
> easy in Python.
>
> Pylab is a project to be Python's version of Matlab: it intends to be an
> integrated bundle of Python the programming language, Numpy, Scipy, and
> Matplotlib all in one easy-to-use application.
>
>
>> I have high familiarity with matlab, but the computer I use does not
>> have it. So moving to python.
>> What should I use? and the best way to use it. I will be running
>> matlab-like scripts sometimes on the shell prompt and sometimes on the
>> command line.
>
> Pylab is intended to be the closest to Matlab, but I don't know how close
> it is. Also, Pylab is NOT compatible with Matlab: its aim is to be an
> alternative to Matlab, not to be a clone. So it cannot run Matlab scripts.
>
> You might also like to look at Sage:
>
> http://www.sagemath.org/
>
> Sage is a Python project aimed to be an alternative to Mathematica.
>
>
> Ultimately, you will have to look at the packages, see their features,
> perhaps try them for a while (they are all free software, so the only
> cost is your time), and decide for yourself which one meets your needs.
> We can't answer that, because we don't know what you need.
>
>

Matplotlib is excellent, it has an extensive pile of docs and examples, 
and the mailing list is extremely helpful.

-- 
Cheers.

Mark Lawrence.