Software Carpentry aims to help researchers get their work done in less time and with less pain by teaching them basic research computing skills. This hands-on workshop will cover basic concepts and tools for using the command prompt, version control with Git, and the Python programming language, including program design, version control, data management, and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and to apply what they have learned to their own research problems.

The workshop will take place Wednesday January 13 and Thursday January 14. Registering for one day will register you for the other; you should plan to attend both days.

The workshop is open to anyone. You do not need any experience to participate but you will need access to a WIndows, Mac or Linux computer. The workshop will be hosted online using Zoom; instructions for accessing course material and installing software will be sent in advance. For questions, contact Data Education Coordinator Nathaniel Porter.

By the end of this workshop, you will know how to use:

• The Unix Shell
  • Files and directories
  • History and tab completion
  • Pipes and redirection
  • Looping over files
  • Creating and running shell scripts
  • Finding things
• Version Control with Git
  • Creating a repository
  • Recording changes to files: add, commit, …
  • Viewing changes: status, diff, …
  • Ignoring files
  • Working on the web: clone, pull, push, …
  • Resolving conflicts
  • Open licenses
  • Where to host work, and why
• Programming in Python
  • Using libraries
  • Working with arrays
  • Reading, plotting and summarizing data
  • Creating and using functions
  • Loops and conditionals

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please email library-event-accessibility-g@vt.edu at least 10 business days prior to the event.