Astronomy 505

Computer Toolbox II. Tools

Publications LateX - LateX Figures - PostScript

Diagrams xfig

Plotting & Analysis SM - PGPerl - PGPlot

IDL - MatLab

Ray Tracing & 3D POVRay

Images & Spectra IRAF - SAOImage - XImtool - GIMP

Programming Fortran - C - C++ - Python

Numerical Tools numerical recipes - mathematica - maple

WWW HTML - java - CGI

Publications	LateX - LateX Figures - PostScript
Diagrams	xfig
Plotting & Analysis	SM - PGPerl - PGPlot
	IDL - MatLab
Ray Tracing & 3D	POVRay
Images & Spectra	IRAF - SAOImage - XImtool - GIMP
Programming	Fortran - C - C++ - Python
Numerical Tools	numerical recipes - mathematica - maple
WWW	HTML - java - CGI

Selecting the Right Tool
- Is this a simple problem or a complex problem?
- What is the simplest solution? Is this sufficient?
- Have we already solved this problem?
- Has someone else already solved this problem?
Optimum Tool Usage
- How will this program be used? How often? How long? By whom?
- Are we solving a specific case or a general case?
- Do we know the results before we start?
- What are our limiting resources?
- Where will our time go?
Sample Problems
- Manipulating a text file or arbitrary format
- Preparing a talk
- Preparing a publication
- Creating a preprint archive
- Building a GUI and telescope control
- Reducing observational data
- Building a numerical simulation

[NMSU, N. Vogt]