Introduction to packages

[glass-w]

Makes a start on a general introduction to python packages and modules, addressing #14. Currently in good practice section but could be moved to basics.

[arm61]

Hey @wg150,

It seems to me that as things stand, this is covering #15 more than #14. Are you still going to add the non-custom packages stuff. In my head, pip install numpy and import numpy as np comes before custom modules.

Anyway some comments on what we have here:

• "unweildy" -> "unwieldy"
• "elements.py" -> "print_things.py"
• Include an example of _ syntax in imports cause it isn't immediately clear how it would be used.

[glass-w]

Thanks for the comments @arm61

It seems to me that as things stand, this is covering #15 more than #14. Are you still going to add the non-custom packages stuff.

Yeah I think you're right, would it be worth combining #14 and #15 into one section or is it best to keep them separate? For the non-custom stuff: I have written a section on custom modules but do you mean covering packages not available on pypi?

In my head, pip install numpy and import numpy as np comes before custom modules

Good point, I can move things around so that these are introduced at the start. Also, is it worth covering Conda?

[arm61]

I think keeping things separate makes more sense, I think that small accessible sections makes for easier reading. However, I do think that #15 should follow directly on from #14.

#14 should cover installing and importing common packages (numpy, scipy, etc.) while #15 is you have written a .py file, here is how to use it in a notebook or another script (which is basically what you have in this PR).

My only worry with covering conda is that is muddies the water a bit, there is probably benefit to saying "pip is the most common way to install packages, however other methods such as conda exist" then link out to some documentation on conda. I am happy to have my mind changed on that though!

[glass-w]

Ok that sounds good to me, I've now pretty much covered #15 in this PR so I'll just make a new PR for that and change the content for this one addressing #14 (sorry for the confusion).

I agree about Conda, I think a short sentence or two to make the reader aware and pointing them to resources etc would be best.

[glass-w]

I've combined both #14 and #15 into this PR

[arm61]

Comments:

packages.ipynb

• Not everyone has a terminal (or knows how to use it), probably better to say terminal/anaconda prompt (covers windows users) and link out to this https://pythoninchemistry.org/import-anything
• We are trying to avoid style recommendations (https://github.com/pythoninchemistry/intro_python_chemists#on-coding-style) not least so that I don't spend my entire life having to make every section PEP8 compliant, therefore potentially removing "(and recommended)" would be nice
• Is sp a commonly used abbreviation for scipy?

custom_modules.ipynb

• add an example usage of the _ in import
• I would maybe, instead of getting into mentioning the PYTHONPATH and potentially getting into that hellscape, say that if you install with a package manager you can import these packages and packages in the CWD, then link to the later (custom packages)[https://pythoninchemistry.org/intro_python_chemists/advanced/custom_packages.html] section.

[glass-w]

@arm61 thanks, here's what I've done:

packages.ipynb

• Changed terminal wording and linked to https://pythoninchemistry.org/import-anything.
• Removed "(and recommended)".
• Removed references to import scipy as sp to avoid confusion.

custom_modules.ipynb

• Added example use of _ usage and updated print_things.py module.
• Removed reference to PYTHONPATH and linked to custom packages.

I think it's almost ready now, let me know what you think.

[glass-w]

Incidentally I hardly use import scipy as sp, I tend to just use the modules directly. It'd be interesting to see what other users think / do?!

[arm61]

I don't think I have ever import scipy or import scipy as sp, I am the same as you, e.g. from scipy import stats.

[arm61]

I will merge now, looks good!