[GNHLUG] PySIG: Using Python to Solve Radar Problems -- April '09 meeting, this Thursday

Bill Sconce sconce at in-spec-inc.com
Mon Apr 20 13:44:51 EDT 2009


PySIG                    Manchester, NH                     24 April2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Using Python to Solve Radar Problems, presented by Bruce Labitt
------------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________________________________________________
PySIG -- New Hampshire Python Special Interest Group
Amoskeag Business Incubator, Manchester, NH
24 April 2009 (4th Thursday)   7:00PM         (Beginner's Q&A at 6:30PM)

The monthly meeting of PySIG, the NH Python Special Interest Group,
takes place on the fourth Thursday of the month, starting at 7:00 PM.

A beginners' session precedes, at 6:30 PM.  (Bring a Python question!)
Favorite-gotcha contest; follow-up on Mercurial implementations after
Kent's Hg presentation last month; Janet's cookies (the rumors turned
out to be true -- Derby-Day Preview Cookies (!)); and more this month.

________________________________________________________________________
                 Using Python to Solve Radar Problems
                      Presented by Bruce Labitt
                      
  Radar systems analysis and simulation can tax the abilities of many
  computing platforms.  A customized platform built from off-the-shelf
  components has been assembled to speed the analysis of computationally
  intensive radar simulations. 

  Open-source software has been employed to speed both the development
  and running of the code.  Python was used to implement the user
  interface, C and openmp were used for the computation engine, and
  Python used again in the back end to render the surface plots.

  This was the author's first experience with a moderately sized
  software project.  The author had to learn Python and numpy, and was
  impressed with both the versatility and power of the Python language.


Plus:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
o Our usual roundtable of introductions, happenings, announcements

o Data Types IX
    - (Running PySIG joke  :)

o Gotcha contest
    - Got a favorite "gotcha"?  Bring it and share...

And of course, milk, & cookies.
  This month: Derby-Pie cookies (not JBD safe, yet laced with special
  "Kentucky Bluegrass Icing"...)
  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6:30   Beginners' Q&A
7:00   Welcome, Announcements - Bill & Ted & Alex
7:10   Cookies & Milk - Janet & Alex  (thanks, Alex!)
7:15   Favorite-gotcha contest
7:20   Mercurial-Implementation stories -anyone
7:25   Impromptu lightning talk(s) - anyone

7:30   Using Python to Solve Radar Problems
         presented by Bruce Labitt

8:30   Open discussion; plans for next time
8:45~  Adjourn

________________________________________________________________________
About PySIG:
    PySIG meetings are typically 10-20 people, around a large table
    equipped with a projector and Internet hookups (wired and
    wireless).  We encourage laptops and a hands-on seminar style.
    The main meeting starts at 7 PM; officially we finish circa 9 PM.  
    Everyone is welcome.  ("Membership" is anyone who has an interest
    in the Python progamming language, whether on Microsoft systems
    or Linux or OS X; or cell phones, mainframes, or space stations.
    We have everyone  from object-oriented gurus to recovering COBOL
    programmers.)  Tell your friends!
    
Beginners' session:
    The half hour before the formal meeting (i.e., starting at 6:30PM)
    we have a beginners' session.  Any Python question is welcome -- 
    whoever asks the first question gets the half hour!  Questions are
    equally welcome by mail beforehand (in which case we can announce
    them) or at the meeting.  (As are all Python questions, anytime.)

Mailing list:
    http://www.dlslug.org/mailman/listinfo/python-talk

About Python:
    "Python is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that
    can be used for many kinds of software development. It offers 
    strong support for integration with other languages and tools, 
    comes with extensive standard libraries, and can be learned
    in a few days.  Many Python programmers report substantial 
    productivity gains and feel the language encourages the 
    development of higher quality, more maintainable code."

    "NASA uses Python...so does Rackspace, Industrial Light&Magic,
    AstraZeneca, Honeywell, and many others."

    Google: "Python has been an important part of Google since the
    beginning, and remains so as the system grows and evolves." 
    -Peter Norvig
    
    http://www.python.org

About Amoskeag Business Incubator:
    Our gracious hosts are the Amoskeag Business Incubator, an
    organization providing a supportive entrepreneurial environment
    that stimulates the growth of businesses to ensure economic
    vitality and encourage job creation, by providing affordable
    office space and technical assistance to early stage companies.
    PySIG and GNHLUG thank the ABI for their generous hospitality.
    
    http://www.abi-nh.com

________________________________________________________________________
Directions:
    PySIG NH meetings are held at the Amoskeag Business Incubator,
    33 South Commercial Street, Manchester, NH.

    Coming in to Manchester using I-293, from the north:
        o Use Exit 5 ("Granite Street") from I-293.  Stay to the left
          at the bottom of the ramp, to turn left (east). Go under
          I-293 and cross the bridge over the Merrimack River.
          
    Coming in to Manchester using I-293, from the south:
        o Use the Granite Street exit.  Turn right (east).  Go under
          I-293 and cross the bridge over the Merrimack River.

    After crossing the bridge:
        o Turn right (south) at the first light.  This is South
          Commercial Street.

        o Go past one parking-lot entrance, turn right into the second
          one.  33 Commercial Street will be right in front of you.  
          You may go in via either the ramp or the door and up three
          steps inside.

        o Inside.  Up the stairs if via the door.  Go through the
          glass doors - follow the diamonds on the floor.  Go left 
          at the last diamond.   (Under a sign which says 
              "<- Amoskeag Small Bus. Incubator").

        o More diamonds, another sign...  much glass and office
          space for SNHU; turn left there, 4 more diamonds and 
          you're at the glass doors for the Incubator.  An "abi"
          sign is above.

        o Through the doors, straight down the hall.  The ABI
          Conference Room is on the left.

________________________________________________________________________
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