Why Python?

• Most popular coding languages of 2016

Python Installation

• Please install Anaconda Python distribution (3.X version, __2.X version). Anaconda distribution is core Python + useful scientific computation libraries (e.g., numpy, scipy, pandas) + package management system (pip or conda)

Python Tutorials

• YouTube tutorial and cheat sheet by Derek Banas

• Python Crash Course cheat sheets

• Python教程 by 廖雪峰

• Python introduction in Quantitative Economics by Thomas Sargent

Python Packages

• Anaconda: Python distribution for scientific computing with conda environment management tool

• NumPy: the numerical/mathematical computation package

• Scikit-Learn: a popular machine learning package for python

• Pandas: Python Data Analysis Library

Python Editor

• Jupyter Notebook: Enough for lectures and presentation (running in browser)

• Spyder: Included in Anaconda

• PyCharm (student account): Professional editor for programming