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Picking programming packages

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Abe Gong
Abe Gong

The document discusses considerations for choosing programming packages and tools. It notes that the decision matters and is one that programmers face regularly. It analogizes the decision to choosing clothes, considering factors like whether the software works with other tools, is popular with active support communities, is well-documented and easy to use, and fits the intended purpose. The document lists tools the author uses including Python, R, Hadoop, and web development packages, and notes other tools they would consider or avoid using.

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Principles and practices for picking powerful programming platforms, packages, and plugins Abe Gong CSAAW Jan 2012
Picking programming packages Getting the right tools matters.
Picking programming packages It matters a lot, but we never talk about it.
Picking programming packages It is a decision we will each face many times.
Picking programming packages It's a lot like another decision we often face... "What should I wear to the thing?¡±
What should I wear to the thing? Clothing Software Accesorizes well Does it work with other software and tools that you use? Is it extensible? Matches others Is it a popular package? Are there active forums to get help and updates? Comfortable Is it well-documented and easy to debug? Reasonably priced It is open source? Does the University already have licenses? Fits the occasion Does it do what you want it to do? Really?
Tools I use ª« Python ¨C Data acquisition and manipulation ª« R, RStudio, and ggplot ¨C Statistics, data visualization ª« Hadoop ¨C Really big data crunching ª« Django ¨C Server-side web development ª« HTML, CSS, Javascript, jquery ¨C Client-side web development ª« Protovis ¨C Client-side data visualization
Tools I would think about using ª« D3 ¨C A souped-up replacement for protovis ª« Ruby on Rails ¨C More popular alternative to Django. Doesn't use python, though. ª« Repast ¨C ABMs with python support ª« PANDAS ¨C A python-based replacement for R?
Tools I would never use ª« Java ¨C A perfectly decent programming language, but it does nothing that C++ and python can't do better. ª« PERL ¨C Like python, but not for humans. ª« NetLogo ¨C A horrible, legacy language that is difficult to understand and almost impossible to debug. In exchange for sliders, NetLogo will give you bad habits and make you afraid of programming.
Other links and sources Picking programming languages: ª« http://www.tundraware.com/Technology/How-To-Pick-A-Programming-Language/ ª« http://www.awaretek.com/atesterea.html ª« http://newbiehacker.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/how-to-choose-a-programming-la ª« http://blog.aegisub.org/2008/12/if-programming-languages-were-religions.html ª« http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_agent-based_modeling_software ª« Kinda random: ª« http://www.inc.com/guides/choosing-accounting-software.html ª« http://www.mb-guide.org/medical-billing-and-coding-software.html ª« http://www.qualitydigest.com/july01/html/gauging.html ª« http://3d.about.com/od/A-Guide-To-3D-Software/a/Buyers-Guide-To-3d-Software. ª« http://www.lingualogue.com/language-software-reviews.html
Picking powerful programming platforms... >> Python ª« Powerful ª« Flexible ª« << Extensible ª« Very popular ª« Very free

More Related Content

Picking programming packages

  • 1. Principles and practices for picking powerful programming platforms, packages, and plugins Abe Gong CSAAW Jan 2012
  • 2. Picking programming packages Getting the right tools matters.
  • 3. Picking programming packages It matters a lot, but we never talk about it.
  • 4. Picking programming packages It is a decision we will each face many times.
  • 5. Picking programming packages It's a lot like another decision we often face... "What should I wear to the thing?¡±
  • 6. What should I wear to the thing? Clothing Software Accesorizes well Does it work with other software and tools that you use? Is it extensible? Matches others Is it a popular package? Are there active forums to get help and updates? Comfortable Is it well-documented and easy to debug? Reasonably priced It is open source? Does the University already have licenses? Fits the occasion Does it do what you want it to do? Really?
  • 7. Tools I use ª« Python ¨C Data acquisition and manipulation ª« R, RStudio, and ggplot ¨C Statistics, data visualization ª« Hadoop ¨C Really big data crunching ª« Django ¨C Server-side web development ª« HTML, CSS, Javascript, jquery ¨C Client-side web development ª« Protovis ¨C Client-side data visualization
  • 8. Tools I would think about using ª« D3 ¨C A souped-up replacement for protovis ª« Ruby on Rails ¨C More popular alternative to Django. Doesn't use python, though. ª« Repast ¨C ABMs with python support ª« PANDAS ¨C A python-based replacement for R?
  • 9. Tools I would never use ª« Java ¨C A perfectly decent programming language, but it does nothing that C++ and python can't do better. ª« PERL ¨C Like python, but not for humans. ª« NetLogo ¨C A horrible, legacy language that is difficult to understand and almost impossible to debug. In exchange for sliders, NetLogo will give you bad habits and make you afraid of programming.
  • 10. Other links and sources Picking programming languages: ª« http://www.tundraware.com/Technology/How-To-Pick-A-Programming-Language/ ª« http://www.awaretek.com/atesterea.html ª« http://newbiehacker.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/how-to-choose-a-programming-la ª« http://blog.aegisub.org/2008/12/if-programming-languages-were-religions.html ª« http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_agent-based_modeling_software ª« Kinda random: ª« http://www.inc.com/guides/choosing-accounting-software.html ª« http://www.mb-guide.org/medical-billing-and-coding-software.html ª« http://www.qualitydigest.com/july01/html/gauging.html ª« http://3d.about.com/od/A-Guide-To-3D-Software/a/Buyers-Guide-To-3d-Software. ª« http://www.lingualogue.com/language-software-reviews.html
  • 11. Picking powerful programming platforms... >> Python ª« Powerful ª« Flexible ª« << Extensible ª« Very popular ª« Very free