1st semestre, 2017

Date

Speaker

Title (click on it to see Repository)

Mar 9

Julien Milli

Clustering techniques implemented in Python

Mar 23

CANCELLED

no speaker

Apr 6

Frédéric Vogt

The right way to plot: rcParams

Apr 20

Julien Milli

p2api: python module for new ESO p2 web tool

May 4

Frédéric Vogt

astroquery

May 18

Ignacio Toledo

Science - Software Collaboration: The Dynamical Scheduler Algorithm in ALMA

Jun 1

Julien Milli

The database search engine Elasticsearch - An example with the Paranal technical database

Jun 15

Blake Pantoja and James Leftley

emcee: The MCMC Hammer

Jun 29

Boris Haeussler

Introduction to git and github

Jul 13

CANCELLED

We will resume in August


Clustering techniques implemented in Python
Julien Milli
Abstract
Through the scikit-learn, Python implements different techniques to cluster data. Starting from a large set of objects and attributes, clustering techniques aim at making groups of objects sharing similar attributes. Based on a real case of data from the SCIDAR profiler (instrument measuring the strength of the turbulence at different altitudes, installed in Paranal), I will illustrate a few of those techniques (PCA, k-means, plus maybe other if time allows).
Repository
- Example code.


The right way to plot: rcParams
Frédéric Vogt
Abstract
Do you feel tired for fine-tuning your Python plots over and over again? Is copy-pasting long plotting code draining energy? Then why not switch to rcParams, the breakfast of champions! In this talk, I will go over some of the benefits of including some rcParams in your daily Python diet. I use rcParams daily, and I feel great ! Join me over coffee, and I’ll share with you the ultimate secret for a better Python lifestyle!
Repository
- Example code.


p2api: python module for new ESO p2 web tool
Julien Milli
Abstract
The python coffee will be on the programmatic interface of p2, the new phase 2 preparation tool of ESO. p2 has a web interface but it is also possible to create OBs using scripts which are automatically saved in one’s ESO user account. This can ve very useful for large programs where many similar OBs have to be created. We will show an illustration of that tool.
Repository
- p2 website
- Example code.


astroquery
Frédéric Vogt
Abstract
In this quick overview, I will show you how cool "the internet" really is when you harness it with Python.
Repository
- Example code.


Science - Software Collaboration: The Dynamical Scheduler Algorithm in ALMA
Ignacio Toledo
Abstract
The development of the Dynamical Scheduler Algorithm (DSA) was a huge problem for ALMA, as the requirements were done while the Observatory was still trying to find out how a project like ALMA was going to be operated. This lead to a bottom-top development of the DSA that lead to a very slow development cycle which was furthermore affected by the constant change of Science operations definitions and constraints, and the few resources available in term of people assigned to the subsystem. Since Cycle 4, the DSA has been using a novelty development approach (at least for our Observatory) which makes use of the API principles, by joining the resources from Science and Software departments where each member works contributes with their expertises by using the tools that are familiar to them. For the ALMA science department the familiar tool has been Python. I will discuss the challenges involved in the DSA, the history of the collaboration done and lessons learned from the experience.
Repository
-


The database search engine Elasticsearch - An example with the Paranal technical database
Julien Milli
Abstract
The Paranal technical database project is a key modernizing initiative to be able to diagnose, troubleshoot and analyse systems in Paranal in an integrated approach. It uses the elastic searchsearch engine, which has a Python interface to make simple queries, advanced queries or create new entries. I will illustrate these capabilities with the example of technical AO data from VLT SPHERE and of the atmospheric site monitoring. I will also show visualisation capabilities with Kibana.
Repository
- Example code.


emcee: The MCMC Hammer
Blake Pantoja and James Leftley
Abstract
We will be giving an introduction to this powerful package for implementing MCMC by showing how to fit a simple model to data from the tutorial. We will set up our priors, likelihood function, walkers, and go! I will also show two applications using a Keplerian orbit fit and fitting two 2D Gaussians to a distribution of interferometric data points in Fourier space. Hope to see you there!
Repository
-


Introduction to git and github
Boris Haeussler
Abstract
This session will not be a normal python coffee, nor - in fact - about python at all. In this interactive session, I will give an introduction to git, a version control system that we ALL should be using for our scientific coding. I will show you how you can very quickly set up a repository for your code/project, connect it to github, run it and use it for your own code or, even better, collaborative code (at least the basics, it's too powerful for me to even know everything).

You can come along to just listen, or you can download a piece of example code that I will provide at a later stage which lets you follow interactively. Or - best - you can bring your own code/folder that you always wanted to put on a version control system. Whether you use my example or your own code, you should be able to follow everything.

Please get set in advance and bring your own laptop to follow-up our hands-on PyCoffee session (please find me in the office the day BEFORE if you have problem, so we can solve them).

This is what you need to do:

- install git (ESO laptops have it installed already, I think, try by typing 'git' )
Here are 2 ways to get it:
https://git-scm.com/download/mac
or via MacPorts
https://iamphioxus.org/2013/04/20/installing-git-via-macports-on-mac-osx/

- set it up so you can use it:
git config --global user.name "YOUR NAME" (quotation needed because of the spaces)
git config --global user.email Your email address

- set up the standard editor otherwise it will use 'vim'
git config --global core.editor "whatever you chose"

- create an account on github (there are others that you can use, but I might be able to help less with those)
https://github.com/

- set up github with a ssh key
Here's a description what you need to do
https://help.github.com/articles/connecting-to-github-with-ssh/

That's it, you're set to go and should be able to take it from there. I will send around my example 'code' the day before.
Repository
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