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Introduction

SciPy is a collection of mathematical algorithms and convenience functions built on the Numeric extension for Python. It adds significant power to the interactive Python session by exposing the user to high-level commands and classes for the manipulation and visualization of data. With SciPy, an interactive Python session becomes a data-processing and system-prototyping environment rivaling sytems such as Matlab, IDL, Octave, R-Lab, and SciLab.

The additional power of using SciPy within Python, however, is that a powerful programming language is also available for use in developing sophisticated programs and specialized applications. Scientific applications written in SciPy benefit from the development of additional modules in numerous niche's of the software landscape by developers across the world. Everything from parallel programming to web and data-base subroutines and classes have been made available to the Python programmer. All of this power is available in addition to the mathematical libraries in SciPy.

This document provides a tutorial for the first-time user of SciPy to help get started with some of the features available in this powerful package. It is assumed that the user has already installed the package. Some general Python facility is also assumed such as could be acquired by working through the Tutorial in the Python distribution. Throughout this tutorial it is assumed that the user has imported all of the names defined in the SciPy namespace using the command

>>> from scipy import *



Next: General help Up: tutorial Previous: tutorial
2001-07-27