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Educating the Open-source Community With Showmedo

Although as important as the software it supports, education and documentation are relatively neglected in the Open-source world. Coders love to code, and explaining how best to use or improve the software tends to be deferred or even sidelined.

At Showmedo we believe the community can play a vital role here and also say thanks for the tools and software that make our lives easier. If you have a piece of software you love or a programming langugage you are enthusiastic about, why not make a screencast showing others how to use it? All the stuff you wish you'd been told, the tips, tricks, insights that would have saved you time and frustration.

Screencasting is easier than you think, and we're happy to help you. You can email us for advice or just use some of the how-to screencasts on the site. This screencasting learning-path is a good place to start.

Name: [116] Erik Thompson
Member: 36 months
Authored: 44 videos
Description: Hi! I am currently a full time student at California State University Long Beach. I recently began to do research in molecular dynamics. I have interests in Python programming, physics, chemistry, and 3D simulation. Also I like bird watching! Here are some of photos I've taken: http://ww ...

[030] VPython - Physics and 3D in Python (9 videos)

a series of video-tutorials by Erik Thompson

Interested in 3D programming, physics and Python? Erik Thomspon introduces 3D programming using the VPython toolkit covering a number of subjects including gravity, friction, and tension demonstrating falling balls, weights, wind and satellites.

Video Tutorials

[079] VPython: Projectile Motion 1

This is the first video in this tutorial series. It briefly discusses where to find information to install python and the VPython libraries. Then we create a 3D program demonstrating the effect of gravity on a dropped object.

16votes

46comments

[080] VPython: Projectile Motion 2

This episode continues from the last episode in which a ball was dropped to the earth. We modify that 3D program so the ball is thrown horizontally from the top of a building.

4votes

20comments

[081] VPython: Projectile Motion 3

This episode continues from the last episode in which a ball was thrown horizontally off a building. In this episode we modify that 3D program so the ball is thrown at an angle from the ground.

5votes

6comments

[082] VPython: Projectile Motion 4

This episode continues from the last episode in which a ball was thrown at an angle from the ground. We modify that 3D program so an artificial wind pushes the ball while it is in flight.

1votes

3comments

[083] VPython: Friction

This episode continues from the last episode in which wind altered the path of a thrown ball. We modify that program so that a thrown puck slides until friction slows it to a stop. Newton's three laws of motion are also discussed.

4votes

4comments

[084] VPython: Force, Motion & Vectors

This is a cleaned up version of the last program and also a review of previous topics. Special emphasis is placed on using vectors and the relationship between force, accleration, velocity, and position vectors. New topics include the norm of a vector and the magnitude of a vector.

1votes

0comments

[085] VPython: Tension

In this episode we model an experiment in which a string is tied to an object on a table and to a weight hanging off the edge. The mass of the weight is increased until the book slides. Tension and friction are the key topics.

1votes

0comments

[086] VPython: Gravity

In this episode we model satellites orbiting the earth. Topics include the Universal Law Of Gravitation, Uniform Circular Motion, and vector subtraction.

1votes

5comments

[087] VPython: Spring Force

In this episode we model the behavior of a spring according to Hooke's Law and take a look at dragging and dropping objects in VPython.

3votes

4comments

Kudos and Thanks for Erik

Introduction

great, I'm going to watch it all

Andrey Vykhodtsev 11 days ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Very helpful for me to refresh what little I knew, and hear how someone else thinks about it!

Chris 12 days ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Outstanding, exactly what I needed to see.

Matt Ball 22 days ago

Vector Math for 3D Programming

Video is good.

32 days ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Very good video. Thanks. I am wondering whether sqlite3 is a good way to work with and store student grades.

anonymous 36 days ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Extremely useful, many thank'x. Please do keep up the good work :-)

anonymous 37 days ago

Getting Started with Launchpad and Bazaar in 20 Minutes

Thank you. My first attempt at using version control,

anonymous 41 days ago

wxPython and PyOpenGL Example 1

Great episode in a great series! Cheers, Chris

anonymous 42 days ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

great stuff man

anonymous 44 days ago

Introduction

very nice! I learned a lot from it!

anonymous 46 days ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

really clear and useful

anonymous 47 days ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

good video

anonymous 2 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Thank you Erik , I like this example!

anonymous 2 months ago

Installing wxPython and PyOpenGL

WoW, lots of pieces for a python system.

anonymous 2 months ago

Introduction

On the edge of my seat.

anonymous 2 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Really great rundown on basic SQL Syntax (python or not), great job mate!

anonymous 2 months ago

Introduction

Good introduction. Thanks!

anonymous 2 months ago

wxPython and PyOpenGL Example 1

very good. thanks for taking the time to do this.

anonymous 2 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 3

usefull Thanks!

anonymous 2 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 2

I like the fact that the vodcasts show mistakes ... I think that students can learn something from the troubleshooting process.

anonymous 2 months ago

VPython: Friction

Great!

Anthony Lewis 2 months ago

VPython: Friction

---- Thanks - you saved me some time.

---- I appreciate your effort.

---- *Really* useful, thanks!.

Anthony Lewis 2 months ago

VPython: Friction

Great, very nice information. Thanks for sharing it.

Anthony Lewis 2 months ago

VPython: Friction

Great, very nice information. Thanks for sharing it.

Anthony Lewis 2 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

Thanks! This gave me a great overview of VPython. It was very clear and concise.

anonymous 3 months ago

Getting Started with Launchpad and Bazaar in 20 Minutes

thanks for the video. I am a beginner and I learned some thing or two.

anonymous 3 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

Very clear and very interesting

anonymous 3 months ago

Introduction

Just completed video #1. Looks good so far. I'm interested in going through the series.

anonymous 3 months ago

Introduction

great concept. I've always wanted to see something like this. thanks!

anonymous 3 months ago

Use Cases

Just started the emol! series. Great job so far!

anonymous 3 months ago

Introduction

looks great! fantastic so far!

anonymous 3 months ago

wxPython and PyOpenGL Example 1

nice demo

anonymous 3 months ago

wxPython and PyOpenGL Example 1

very fine ! good job ! thanks

anonymous 4 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

Hi, I recently discovered python lenguage and it seems me so great, so I want to thank u for this tutorial. It will help to me.

anonymous 4 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

I really liked your quick pysql tutorial and hopefully I will be able to use it in my studies of Computer Linguistics in Uppsala, Sweden.

anonymous 4 months ago

Introduction

interesting idea

anonymous 4 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Thanks really useful

anonymous 4 months ago

Going Over the OpenGL Example Code

Excellent Lesson. How to paint a background image and then draw on top? Lesson Number?

anonymous 4 months ago

Vector Math for 3D Programming

Nice tutorial video, really enjoyed it.

anonymous 4 months ago

wxPython and PyOpenGL Example 1

Just trying to get an idea of programming with python. These videos are great.

anonymous 4 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Very nice intro to sql and sqlite.

anonymous 5 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

Wow that was really cool!! Coming from an animation programming back ground, this looks really easy to use!

anonymous 5 months ago

Calculating Bonds not in the .pdb File

Great work. Just wanted to play around with pdb files. Was exactly what i was looking for. Keep going!

anonymous 5 months ago

VPython: Projectile Motion 1

A nice and useful intro to VPython. Thanks!

anonymous 5 months ago

Introduction

This is such an excellent series -- and a brilliant introduction to real world open source development. Someone like myself, who is only just starting to learn and apply Python, will find these videos to be timely and greatly informative.

anonymous 5 months ago

SQLite from Python: Database Basics

Hey this was great thanks.... exactly what I was looking for. I do neuroscience and just started doing some work on the computational side of the field so I'm brand new to all things python. This was a great introduction to interfacing databases with python!

anonymous 5 months ago

Adding the Slideshow Feature

Thanks for you tutorial series! It's a great help in starting Python graphical programming.

anonymous 5 months ago

more...

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