Python is an Open-Source, easy-to-learn, highly readable, interpreted programming language. It has a clean syntax that makes it perfect for quick scripting, and will allow you to focus on the algorithms and science instead of the details of the programming itself! While the vanilla Python allows you to do many incredible things, most of the power of Python is on its libraries, packages of built-in functions, and routines that allow you to work with matrices, plot, animate, and optimize your code without having to do it yourself.
Using Google Colab
It’s alright if you meet some troubles installing Python and those packages for the first time. We are always here to help you, but you can also access and run all our Python scripts online using Google Colab.
Colab stands for “Colaboratory”, a free Jupyter notebook environment that runs in the cloud and stores its notebooks on Google Drive, featured in zero configuration required and easy sharing. Click here for a quick guide through Google Colab.
To run Colab for the workshop:
1. Log in to your Google Drive account.
2. Click our sharing link.
3. Find and click “File -> Save a copy in Drive” at the top menu.
4. A new tab of the copy will be opened and then enjoy your coding journey!
Installing Python3
For this workshop, we will utilize Python 3, along with three libraries:
(i) Numpy: for scientific and numerical routines,
(ii)Matlotlib: for easy-to-use visualization
(iii) Jupyter, notebooks that integrate standard text and equations, with coding blocks and built-in visualization. We recommend the installation of Anaconda, this toolkit has all that you will need for the workshop, Python 3 and the required libraries (and many more useful libraries that you may discover in the future!), please follow the installation instructions on their website and you will be ready to for the next step.
Downloading the Python tutorial
To download the Python tutorial, click here.
If you are using Jupyter notebooks the first step is to open Jupyter in your browser:
Windows users run the Jupyter Notebook application installed by Anaconda.
MacOS and Linux users can use the jupyter notebook command on the terminal.
Here, you will see a file navigator, create a new notebook and you are ready to learn the basics of Python programming!
Downloading the laboratory for stochastic gene expression
You can access all workshop materials on our material page.
If you encounter any issues with the download, starting the notebook, or any additional assistance send us an email and we will help you out.