Programming languages that have statistical distributions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around identifying programming languages that provide access to statistical distributions, such as the binomial distribution. The inquiry is framed within the context of hobbyist use, emphasizing the preference for free or inexpensive options without the need for expensive specialty math packages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about programming languages that include probability distributions, specifically mentioning a preference for affordable options.
  • Another participant highlights R as a programming language specifically designed for statistics, suggesting resources like tutorials and a free Python book titled "Think Stats" for further learning.
  • A different participant mentions that GCC supports random number and distribution facilities introduced in C++11, indicating that C++ can also be a viable option.
  • Another response reiterates R as a standard for statistical work and suggests GNU Octave for versatility, while also recommending consideration of standard C++ libraries depending on user needs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on R being a prominent choice for statistical programming, but there are multiple views regarding the suitability of other languages like Python, C++, and GNU Octave, indicating a lack of consensus on the best option.

Contextual Notes

Some responses depend on the user's specific needs and preferences, such as the level of versatility required and the familiarity with different programming languages.

Sparky_
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hello -

Do you know which programming languages have probability distributions available to use such as the binomial distribution (as an example).

I guess I would like to limit my questions if it's necessary to languages that are either free or cheap - no specialty math packages for thousands of dollars.

My interest is only at the hobby level - nothing for work.

Thanks
Sparky_
 
Technology news on Phys.org
R is the standard for anything statistics related. If you're looking for a bit more versatility, you might look into GNU Octave. Note that these are both very high-level languages; depending on your needs, it may be worthwhile to look into some of the standard C++ libraries.
 

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