New Linux Python Project: Computer Exercises

We assume you are running on a system which was set up for doing scientific Python, as described in The World is your Python. You can check this by running our Python demos at http://www.physics.cornell.edu/sethna/StatMech/ComputerExercises/UnpackAndRunPythonDemos.py, which will download and run a large number of different solutions to exercises: download and run the Python file, or (if you are trusting) just open it directly from your Web browser using /usr/bin/python (or whatever the appropriate path is, say, determined by the command "which python").

For clarity, we assume you are starting up the Small Network exercise: change the names of the directories as appropriate for the exercise you are working on.

• Make a directory called "SmallWorld" (using folders, or the command "mkdir SmallWorld")
• Start up a Web browser (Applications -> Internet -> ...) find the computer exercises page http://www.physics.cornell.edu/~sethna/StatMech/ComputerExercises.html, and find the Web page for the Small World network.
• Download each of the Python software files and hints files into your directory SmallWorld, except for the "Answers and Demos" file.
• Start a terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal, or click on the screen logo on the toolbar), and type
  • cd SmallWorld

    [changes directory]

  • ls

    [should show the files you downloaded]

  • pydoc SmallWorldNetworkHints

    [gives documentation for SmallWorldNetworkHints.py]

  • cp SmallWorldNetworkHints.py SmallWorldNetwork.py

    [copies file]

  • xemacs SmallWorldNetwork.py

    [edit file, save file]

  • python -i SmallWorldNetwork.py

    [run python, ^D to exit python, edit Python, repeat]

  • For help on using Python, see the Python Nanotutorials at http://www.physics.cornell.edu/~myers/teaching/ComputationalMethods/python/NanoPy/NanoPy.html or the textbook Learning Python by Lutz and Ascher.

Statistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity, now available at Oxford University Press (USA, Europe).