[SciPy-dev] Re: ASP: Ipython in SciPy

[Fernando Perez]

Joe Harrington schrieb:
> Fernando:
> 
> 
>>...should this info (what could be considered 'development best practices
>>with ipython') go into the scipy tutorial or into the ipython manual
>>proper?
> 
> 
> Well, scientific data analysis is a bit like development.  You make a
> set of routines that read in and reduce a dataset.  The vast majority
> of scientific users follow the "insert print statements" method of
> debugging.  When I teach my classes to use debugging techniques like
> setting breakpoints, looking at variables, stepping the code a line at
> a time, and so on, their homework time shortens by 30%.  So I think it
> is important to teach scientific users to debug.  However, the level
> of detail may differ greatly between the two manuals.  Most scientists
> would consider this to be in the category of "random computer tricks
> that waste my time", so if it's not short and sweet, they'll skip it.

Sure, I think it's a very good idea to have such a chapter in the docs.  As I 
said, I might even copy it over to the ipython manual so it also benefits 
other (non-scipy) users of ipython.  For this purpose, it would be great if 
this info were in fact confined to a standalone chapter or two, if possible.

Best,

f