.. _preparations:

============================================
Items for the Class
============================================

Hardware (hardly free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* A computer: laptop or desktop.  No tablet PCs as a main
  computational resource.
  Better if you already have a linux-based one or Mac.
  For a Windows-based PC, you need to install some packages to run
  a linux-based operating system on your PC. Please consult with me or
  TA if you have Windows PCs only or none.
  

Softwares (mostly free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Essential software (required, free):

* Linux/Unix or  Mac OS X with Xcode (no Windows please!).
* Compilers for Fortran 90, C/C++ (e.g., `gfortran, gcc <https://gcc.gnu.org/fortran/>`_)
* Debuggers (`gdb <http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/>`_ , `lldb <http://lldb.llvm.org>`_, etc.)
* Python and its scientific libraries (e.g., `Anaconda
  <https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/>`_,
  `NumPy <http://www.numpy.org>`_, 
  `SciPy <http://www.scipy.org>`_, `Matplotlib <http://matplotlib.org>`_, etc.)
* Version control system (e.g., `Git <https://github.com>`_ or `SVN <https://subversion.apache.org>`_)
* Text editors (traditional ones: `GNU emacs <https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/>`_,
  `aquamacs <http://aquamacs.org>`_, 
  `vi <https://www.cs.colostate.edu/helpdocs/vi.html>`_,
  `vim <http://www.vim.org>`_; modern fancy ones: `sublime <https://www.sublimetext.com>`_, `atom <https://atom.io>`_, etc.)
* `Sphinx <http://sphinx-doc.org>`_
* LaTex packages (`texshop <http://pages.uoregon.edu/koch/texshop/>`_,
  `LaTeXiT <http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/17889/latexit>`_)
  
Extra software (optional, free or commercial):

* `Matlab <http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/>`_
  or `GNU Octave <https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/>`_

* software package manager
  (`Yum  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowdog_Updater,_Modified>`_,
  `Homebrew <http://brew.sh>`_, `MacPorts
  <https://www.macports.org>`_, etc.)

* `GNU plot <http://www.gnuplot.info>`_,
  `IDL <http://exelisvis.com/ProductsServices/IDL.aspx?utm_partnerid=adwords&gclid=CMXt_I2ekcgCFQZafgodQPAJkQ>`_

* symbolic math using `sage <http://doc.sagemath.org/html/en/index.html>`_

* even more for `high performance computing on Mac <http://hpc.sourceforge.net>`_
  
Others (absolutely free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* Most importantly, your passion and energy to learn new things.