Visual Parallel Computing Using Python-based VISION/HPC

Kyran Dale

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:44:23 +0000

We may not know much about the future of computer programming, but one thing we do know is that it is parallel and the biggest challenge facing software programmers and hardware designers is how to exploit all those multiple cores out there.

So Unpingco’s new Python series is both fascinating and prescient. Oh and useful too.

The chief impediment to widespread usage of parallel computing is the difficulty in programming HPCs. Furthermore, most users work from a Windows PC so that learning UNIX as a prerequisite to parallel programming is a further obstruction. What is needed is a smooth workflow that simplifies both the programming task and the remote execution management. VISION/HPC is a Python-based, drag-and-drop visual-programming environment that reduces sophisticated programming tasks to dropping and connecting icons in a GUI flowchart…

`[1402] Introducing VISION/HPC‘, a video-tutorial by unpingco, part of the series `Visual Parallel Computing Using Python-based VISION/HPC‘

`[1403] An Example Using the Imaging Library‘, a video-tutorial by unpingco, part of the series `Visual Parallel Computing Using Python-based VISION/HPC‘

`[1404] An Example Using Matplotlib Library‘, a video-tutorial by unpingco, part of the series `Visual Parallel Computing Using Python-based VISION/HPC‘
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Photo-editing with GIMP

Kyran Dale

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:04:44 +0000

Rede’s wondeful series shows how to repair old photographs with the GIMP graphic-editor. Check it out even if you haven’t got any old photographs to repair - you’ll learn a whole lot of GIMP anyway. And the photos are lovely too

`[1399] Enhance A Framed Photo With GIMP Part 1‘, a video-tutorial by Rede, part of the series `Repairing Photos With GIMP‘

`[1400] Enhance A Framed Photo With GIMP Part 2‘, a video-tutorial by Rede, part of the series `Repairing Photos With GIMP‘

More C++ video-tutorials

Kyran Dale

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:49:15 +0000

Yiroel’s huge C++ beginners set continues to grow. This is a fantastic resource for starting programmers in what is a notoriously tricky language. Compared to a scripting language like Python, C++ makes much greater demands on the programmer, with a much more complex syntax and work-flow. So if you could do with a bit of assistence, check out these vids and leave some useful comments

`C++ Tutorials - Absolute n00b spoonfeed‘

Python Beginners - Club Collection Takes Shape

Kyran Dale

Tue, 05 May 2009 01:25:59 +0000

Have finally got round to giving the Club videos a bit of presentational structure following Ian’s last file I/O series in his huge Beginner Programming With Python.

Ian’s final series in Beginners brings the club total to 118 videos, 15 video-series and over 10 hours of Pythonic video demonstration <phew>.

Ian’s beginner-sets were conceived as a whole, from introducing the look and feel of Python to covering, in quite a bit of detail, the general Python programming elements. With Lucas Holland’s introduction to the Python standard libraries we have a nice round number of 50 videos, setting clubbers up nicely for the other club videos and some of the intermediate/advanced Showmedo Python series.

Scientific and Parallel Computing Using IPython

Kyran Dale

Tue, 05 May 2009 01:09:15 +0000

Wearing my research-scientist’s hat I can honestly assert that Python’s strength in scientific programming is one of its glories, and maybe less appreciated than it should be. That makes series like unpingo’s
Scientific and parallel computing using IPython pure gold for its target audience. Combining the power and flexibility of the enhanced IPython interpreter with some of the industrial strength Python scientific, numeric and graphing libraries creates a superbly flexible and efficient scientific programming set-up. Check out these vids, rather superb as ever.

The series has five videos:

• Introducing and setting up IPython on a Windows PC
• Getting around and using the IPython interpreter
• Using on-line documentation for a short case study on computing integrals
• Subclassing and using the Python language for scientific computing
• Using doctest and docstrings in customized classes

Incoming C++ Videos

Kyran Dale

Mon, 04 May 2009 01:45:27 +0000

We have a huge C++ series coming in, courtesy of antiRTFM - C++ Tutorials - Absolute noob Spoonfeed. As a C++ programmer from way back, it’s great to see these videos at Showmedo. Yisroel has really created something rather special, 30 videos which aim to gently lead you through the initial steps of what is a relatively difficult language. The videos were designed for the smaller YouTube format but work well within that constraint. Although the terser and friendlier scripting languages such as Python are starting to make big inroads in software development, there are still times when the raw speed of C++ and its ability to connect to the machine at a lower level make it the right tool for the job. So check out this rather cool set and leave some nice feedback.

Boa-Constructor (WxPython GUI-builder) Video Series

Kyran Dale

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:44:35 +0000

There are precious few open-source (OS) GUI builders of any repute but the lack is sorely felt in the WxPython world. WxGlade is a fine tool  if you like, as I do, it’s minimalist approach, but it is best for fairly small projects. When programming in the C++ WxWidgets I was impressed by the DialogBlocks GUI-builder, written by Julian Smart, the man behind WxWidgets. But it’s not open-source (though well worth the money IMO) and though you can use it to ouput XRC and, with a bit of hackery, use its widgets with WxPython, it is not Python-centric.

So it’s great to announce the addition of a series of videos dedicated to Boa Constructor, the Python IDE/WxWidgets GUI-builder.  I have been impressed by the effort the author Chaelon has put into getting these videos right and they are a great way to gently introduce yourself to what is probably the only real contender as far as ambitious OS (or otherwise) WxPython IDEs is concerned. It is a surprising gap in WxPython’s armour and it would be great were Boa Constructor to achieve critical mass. I did try it a number of years ago and found it somewhat fragile, but from watching the vids it looks to have matured. Anyway I’m inclined to give it another chance. So get on over and watch the vids and remember to leave Chaelon some well-earned praise.

Python 3 Videos

Kyran Dale

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:38:05 +0000

In a trickle sure to become a flood, we are starting to receive some videos demonstrating Python 3 and its differences from the 2.3–2.6 family. Exciting time for all Pythonistas, but it will take a while before Py3k is the first Python of choice. But watch these and the others to come if you want to keep abreast of developments, and you really should.

• Rob Marchetti has  a short comparison of Python 2.5 and 3.0 using Ulipad.
• Chyld has a couple of Py3k videos, including a very cool demonstration of a del.icio.us mashup which uses the social bookmarking site’s RSS feeds to create something rather wonderful. I loved this demonstration of Python’s power and it’s a great example of scratching an itch with some well integrated libraries.
• Gasto gives a side-by-side comparison of differences between the old and new Pythons, focusing on the new and very different ‘print’ command. This is a long but detailed video which gives a real feel for developments in the language.

A Special Mention

Kyran Dale

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:22:50 +0000

Erik Thompson continues his huge series ‘Developing Emol’ which follows his creation of a 3D molecule viewer using Python and WxPython, the Python GUI-building library. Erik has really created something special here, and it’s my own personal favourite Showmedo series. He covers quite comprehansively the creation of a useful and very cool piece of software. For anyone interested in the birthing pangs and joys of a new program, this is a must-view. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

New Videorama

Kyran Dale

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:15:20 +0000

Things are starting to settle with the new site and new-server teething problems, so some new video announcements are long overdue. I’ll deal here with the non-python contributions:

• First up we have atlef’s videos, showing how to perform a minimal Ubuntu install.
• Neil Dickenson continues his justifiably popular and really rather wonderful Introduction to Assembley Language.
• Steve’s extends his very well attended OpenStreetMap tutorials. Check these out if you’re interested in or want to contribute to the Wiki World Map.
• If you’re interested in the Unified Modelling Language (UML) check out the Boss’ brief but stimulating introduction to BOUML, the open-source UML creation toolkit.

Congratulations to the authors for such a varied and interesting set.