Programming Skills

A solid grasp of programming concepts and tools is crucial for contributing to the development and validation of FlowCyPy. Below, we highlight the essential skills and resources to enhance your proficiency.

Python Programming

Python is the backbone of FlowCyPy. It is essential to understand its key concepts, features, and best practices to effectively contribute to the project.

Key areas of focus include:

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP):

  • Writing and understanding functions and classes.

  • Classes in Python should always start with an uppercase letter (e.g., class Detector).

  • All other objects are fully lowercase (e.g., object, function).

• Popular Libraries:

  • numpy for numerical operations.

  • matplotlib for creating visualizations.

  • pandas for efficient data manipulation and analysis.

• Debugging and Troubleshooting:

  • Use tools like pdb, ipdb, or IDE-based debuggers (e.g., in VS Code or PyCharm).

Additional Python Essentials

• What is pip?

  • pip is the Python package manager used to install, update, and manage libraries in Python projects.

  • Example: pip install numpy

• What is conda?

  • conda is an environment and package manager that supports Python and other languages.

  • It is useful for managing dependencies and creating isolated environments.

  • Example: conda create --name flowcypy-env python=3.10

• PEP Standards:

  • Python Enhancement Proposals (PEPs) define Python’s design and best practices.

  • Follow PEP 8 for consistent and clean coding style.

  • Example:

    • Indentations should be 4 spaces.

    • Use snake_case for variable and method names.

• Interactive Python:

  • Use Jupyter notebooks or Python’s interactive shell for rapid testing and prototyping.

Suggested Practice: Enhance your skills with hands-on exercises available on CodeChef Practice.

Git and Version Control

Version control is essential for collaborative software development. You will use Git to manage the FlowCyPy codebase effectively. Familiarity with the following Git commands is expected:

• git clone: Clone repositories to your local machine for development.

• git pull: Fetch and merge changes from the remote repository.

• git commit: Save changes locally with descriptive commit messages.

• git push: Upload your changes to the remote repository.

• git branch: Create and manage branches for new features or experimental changes.

• git merge: Integrate updates from different branches.

• git stash: Temporarily save changes without committing them.

Best Practices for Git

• Commit frequently with clear and concise commit messages.

• Always pull the latest changes before starting new work to avoid conflicts.

• Use branches to isolate different tasks or features.

Mini Objective

Try creating a new branch, making a change, committing it, and merging it back into the main branch.

Recommended Resource: Master Git workflows through the Pro Git Book.