====== Software ======

====Commonly Used:====
OSU has site licenses for some, the others are free
  * Python running NumPy and SciPy provides a Matlab like experience (see below).
  * Labview (used for some of the instruments)
  * [[http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/|Draftsight CAD]]
  * Microsoft Office (includes a [[http://tss.oregonstate.edu/softdist/Microsoft/homeuse/|home use agreement]] that allows faculty and grads to get a $10 package for a home computer)
  * Sigmaplot (scientific spreadsheet)
  * [[http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/|ImageJ]]

A full list of OSU licensed software is available at http://tss.oregonstate.edu/softdist/  http://engineering.oregonstate.edu/computing/personal/149

====Python:====
Python 2.X has been used to create an open source version of MatLab. The key to getting Python to act like MatLab is to 
  - Download and Install Python 2.X
  - Download and Install the appropriate version of NumPy (it will automatically detect Python)
  - Download and Install the appropriate version of SciPy (it will automatically detect Python)

Windows:
Often, the easiest way for Windows users to have these tools installed is to use the Python(x,y) package which includes the above modules and many other tools including a very helpful editor/development environment named Spyder which itself runs in python and is available for most platforms.

MacOS:
A basic python distribution is installed in later version macos, however, to install numpy and spyder the [[http://www.macports.org/|Macports]] system is highly recommended. One difficulty with this solution is that you must be a little familiar with working on the commandline.

Linux:
See your distribution specific installer.

Tutorials:
  *[[Python|Simple example]]
  *http://cutter.rexx.com/~dkuhlman/scipy_course_01.html#arrays-and-array-operations
  *http://www.tramy.us/numpybook.pdf


*Some content courtesy the Minote Research Group (Oregon State University)