| About NumPy | |
| =========== | |
| `NumPy <http://www.scipy.org/NumpPy/>`__ is the fundamental package | |
| needed for scientific computing with Python. This package contains: | |
| - a powerful N-dimensional :ref:`array object <arrays>` | |
| - sophisticated :ref:`(broadcasting) functions <ufuncs>` | |
| - basic :ref:`linear algebra functions <routines.linalg>` | |
| - basic :ref:`Fourier transforms <routines.fft>` | |
| - sophisticated :ref:`random number capabilities <routines.random>` | |
| - tools for integrating Fortran code | |
| - tools for integrating C/C++ code | |
| Besides its obvious scientific uses, *NumPy* can also be used as an | |
| efficient multi-dimensional container of generic data. Arbitrary | |
| data types can be defined. This allows *NumPy* to seamlessly and | |
| speedily integrate with a wide variety of databases. | |
| NumPy is a successor for two earlier scientific Python libraries: | |
| NumPy derives from the old *Numeric* code base and can be used | |
| as a replacement for *Numeric*. It also adds the features introduced | |
| by *Numarray* and can also be used to replace *Numarray*. | |
| NumPy community | |
| --------------- | |
| Numpy is a distributed, volunteer, open-source project. *You* can help | |
| us make it better; if you believe something should be improved either | |
| in functionality or in documentation, don't hesitate to contact us --- or | |
| even better, contact us and participate in fixing the problem. | |
| Our main means of communication are: | |
| - `scipy.org website <http://scipy.org/>`__ | |
| - `Mailing lists <http://scipy.org/Mailing_Lists>`__ | |
| - `Numpy Issues <https://github.com/numpy/numpy/issues>`__ (bug reports go here) | |
| - `Old Numpy Trac <http://projects.scipy.org/numpy>`__ (no longer used) | |
| More information about the development of Numpy can be found at | |
| http://scipy.org/Developer_Zone | |
| If you want to fix issues in this documentation, the easiest way | |
| is to participate in `our ongoing documentation marathon | |
| <http://scipy.org/Developer_Zone/DocMarathon2008>`__. | |
| About this documentation | |
| ======================== | |
| Conventions | |
| ----------- | |
| Names of classes, objects, constants, etc. are given in **boldface** font. | |
| Often they are also links to a more detailed documentation of the | |
| referred object. | |
| This manual contains many examples of use, usually prefixed with the | |
| Python prompt ``>>>`` (which is not a part of the example code). The | |
| examples assume that you have first entered:: | |
| >>> import numpy as np | |
| before running the examples. | |