.. _preparations:

============================================
Items for the Class
============================================

Hardware (hardly free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* A computer: desktop or laptop (but not a tablet PCs). It
  is ideal if you already have a Linux machine or a machine that runs a Unix-based
  operating system, e.g., macOS. For a Windows PC, you will need to install some
  packages to run a Linux-based operating system on your PC. Please consult the
  instructions at :ref:`ch01-platforms`, or with the instructor or TA if you only have
  a Windows PC. If you do not have access to an appropriate computer please contact the
  instructor as early as possible.

Software (mostly free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Essential software (required, free):

* Linux, macOS with Xcode, or Windows with a functioning WSL setup/VM.

* Compilers for Fortran 90, C/C++ (e.g., gfortran, gcc, and g++ from the `GNU compiler collection <https://gcc.gnu.org>`_)

* Debuggers (`gdb <http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/>`_ , `valgrind <https://www.valgrind.org/>`_, etc.)

* Python and its scientific libraries (e.g., `Anaconda <https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/>`_,
  `NumPy <http://www.numpy.org>`_, `SciPy <http://www.scipy.org>`_, `Matplotlib <http://matplotlib.org>`_, etc.)

* Version control system: `Git <https://github.com>`_ (compare to `SVN <https://subversion.apache.org>`_)

* Text editors:
 
  * traditional ones: `GNU emacs <https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/>`_, `vim <http://www.vim.org>`_/`nvim <https://neovim.io/>`_;

  * modern *fancy* ones:  `Visual Studio Code <https://code.visualstudio.com>`_ (recommend), `sublime <https://www.sublimetext.com>`_, etc.

    * VS Code is a particularly good choice for WSL users. See `this getting started guide <https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/tutorials/wsl-vscode>`_ for more information.

Extra software (optional, mostly free):

* Software package manager

  * For Linux this will depend on your particular distribution, `Aptitude <https://wiki.debian.org/Aptitude>`_ for Ubuntu and Debian, `DNF <https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/DNF>`_ for Fedora, `Pacman <https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman>`_ for ArchLinux and Manjaro, etc. The appropriate manager will be installed by default in whatever distribution you are using.

  * For MacOS `Homebrew <http://brew.sh>`_. 

* LaTeX packages

  * Often available through your package manager via `Texlive <https://tug.org/texlive/distro.html>`_, see `CTAN <https://www.ctan.org/>`_ to download packages directly.

  * On MacOS `texshop <http://pages.uoregon.edu/koch/texshop/>`_, and `LaTeXiT <http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/17889/latexit>`_
    may be of use.

* `Matlab <http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/>`_
  or `GNU Octave <https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/>`_ could occasionally be useful
  to rapidly experiment with ideas. We will *not* directly use either of these in this course.
  Feel free to ignore them.

Others (absolutely free)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* Most importantly, your passion and energy to learn new things.