Since 1998, Software Carpentry has taught scientists and engineers the skills and tools they need to use computing more productively. Thanks to a grant from the Sloan Foundation, we are running a two-day workshop at Utah State University, followed by an optional 4-8 weeks of self-paced online learning. The workshop covers the core skills a researcher needs to know in order to be productive in a small team:

•   Using the shell to do more in less time

•   Using version control to manage and share information

•   Basic Python programming

•   How (and how much) to test programs

•   Working with relational databases

The online follow-up goes into these topics in more detail, and also touch on program design and construction, matrix programming, using spreadsheets in a disciplined way, data management, and software development lifecycles.

In collaboration with Ethan White's lab in the Department of Biology we will be offering the workshop at Utah State on the weekend of March 23rd and 24th. The workshop is free, you just need to bring a laptop and commit to spending 2 days learning about how to be a better scientific programmer. Space is limited and signups are on a first come first serve basis.