[Edu-sig] Python Installation with PyLab?

[Jeremy Bruce]

Hi Edu,

I'm hoping to start bringing python into my math teaching in stages over the next year.
I've been trying out different installations and setups, and wondering if anyone could offer any guidance.

Ideally, I'd have a setup that included numpy/scipy/matplotlib, but that stuff seems to be difficult to install by itself, or necessarily come along with a heavy duty installation of other things in the various distributions I've seen (SAGE, and EPD). Plus, anyone wanting to use an iPad is stuck. So, installing EPD is option 1, but has those limitations. Thoughts?

Option 2 is just not using pylab-y stuff, and just going plain installation. Macs, PCs, and iPads could all join, and we could just use a simple text editor (I like Sublime Text 2), and the terminal. 

Option 3 is an idea from Fraser Speirs. Set up a Linux server on Amazon cloud services and have students SSH in to one installation. This also has the benefit of giving iPad users an option.

Would love to hear the setups you all use, and any ideas you may have.

Thanks!

Prof. Bruce

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