INF 510 Principles of Programming for Informatics Dr. Jeremy Abramson Week 1 August 22nd, 2017

Logistical Minutiae Who: Jeremy Abramson What: Informatics! abramson@isi.usc.edu (INF510 in the subject line!) (310) 448-9142 (ISI phone) Office hours: By appointment (probably) Campus office: GER 207 What: Informatics! When: Tuesdays, 5-7:20pm Where: KAP163 Why: We’ll get to this… How: Good question! Please do not go find me on facebook or Google Plus or Friendster

Further Logistical Minutiae Course Producer: Olutobi (“Tobi”) Akomolede akomoled@usc.edu Blackboard Check and make sure you can access Will post slides, homework assignments, etc. there Unless someone has a better idea 

My Background B.S. in Computer Science from UC Davis Research on cellular networks/wireless mobility management M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from USC Research on high-performance computing (performance prediction and analysis) and computational resiliency for reconfigurable architectures Currently a scientist at USC/ISI Research computer security on embedded/mobile devices, biometrics Taught Sports Analytics previously You may get a lot of sports data sets  Deal with data for my research Not an analyst Not a statistician Definitely not a “data scientist” (although, scarily enough, I’m becoming one. Sigh)

Why Bother? Most of this stuff is on Coursera, edX, etc. Value of this course vs. MOOCs? [Story from lunch yesterday] Really wish I remembered what this was! 

Your Background Class census Why learn Python? Why “informatics”? Year? Major? Technical background? Career goals? Why learn Python? Why “informatics”? Why are you in this class?

Free Advice First week of class: Choose your honorifics wisely “Anything important?” “Lecture for one” Choose your honorifics wisely Instructors can tell time, most of the time In general, your instructor cares about this a lot more than you do. Try not to make it too obvious. 1. Used to teaching undergrads, this may happen from time to time

Deliverables / Syllabus I prefer fewer, deliverables, but… At a minimum, expected to do reading on your own / come prepared Syllabus is in a [slight] state of flux First time with a lab Switching to Python3 Trying to find the right mix of deliverables, lab work, etc. May partially depend on you! 1. Story about how “novel” shouldn’t be novel / how as technical sophistication increases, “lecture techniques” decrease

So…The Internet Use it At my job, sometimes I feel like I’m merely an interpreter between StackOverflow and DARPA Swordfish != realistic PS: The above is syntactically correct Python! Congrats, you can program! 1. The scene where the guy has a gun to his head….

How to “get” Python Main book/resource website: https://www.py4e.com Book available at: https://www.py4e.com/book.php Can get hard copy at Amazon if you like Other resources: slides, vidoes, etc. Download miniconda: https://github.com/SmithsonianWorkshops/CodingInPython/tree/master/Week%200 Hopefully Linux users can follow something similar Instructions also include Jupyter; install that too

Python! You guys have no idea how easy you have it! “Back in my day…” Interpreted language This really doesn’t matter anymore! Libraries for everything (no really) Google is your friend! B+ syntax for beginners Relatively easy to pick up

INF 510 Principles of Programming for Informatics Dr. Jeremy Abramson Week 1 August 22nd, 2017