Useful Computer Programming for Astrophysics concentration in Grad School

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on essential programming skills for students pursuing a physics PhD with an emphasis on astrophysics. Key programming languages identified include Fortran, Python, IDL, C/C++, and Perl. Participants recommend enrolling in scientific programming courses offered by universities to build a strong foundation in programming. Mastering these languages will facilitate further learning and application in astrophysics research.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of programming concepts
  • Familiarity with scientific programming methodologies
  • Knowledge of astrophysics principles
  • Access to university-level computer science courses
NEXT STEPS
  • Enroll in a scientific programming course focusing on Python and Fortran
  • Explore advanced topics in IDL for data analysis in astrophysics
  • Learn C/C++ for performance-critical applications in research
  • Investigate the use of Perl for data manipulation and scripting
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for undergraduate and graduate students in physics, particularly those concentrating in astrophysics, as well as educators designing curriculum for computer science in scientific contexts.

majormuss
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My objective is to learn programs and techniques that will prove beneficial to my physics degree. I am going on to grad school to get a physics PhD but I will be staying 1 more year as an undergrad. A CS minor is probably too broad for me because I only want to learn specific programs that will help me in graduate school. Could you recommend the most useful CS classes that will teach me essential programming skills?
 
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It will depend on what your university offers! If your university offers courses in scientific programming, do those. Programming is a general skill set, it's much easier to pick up other languages when you have the basics down.

But in astro, Fortran (yes, it's still a thing), Python and IDL tend to dominate. You'll also probably see C/C++, perl, and other common languages.
 

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