Lecture 2: Programming
What we covered in lecture¶
Core Python syntax you need for the rest of the course.
Notebook workflow: writing code in cells, documenting in markdown, and rerunning cleanly.
NumPy for vectorized numerical work.
Matplotlib for quick analysis plots.
GitHub and open-source basics used in class collaboration.
Copilot as an assistant, not a replacement for understanding.
What you should be able to do¶
Read and write small Python functions with clear variable names.
Use NumPy arrays for arithmetic, indexing, masking, and basic statistics.
Produce a clear plot with axis labels, title, and appropriate plot type.
Use git and GitHub to do version control and collaborate on code repositories.
Use AI tools to speed up coding, but always check the output for logic.