Installation

Requirements

pyWitness is developed exclusively in Python 3. The installation methods detailed below automatically install the following required packages:

  • python > 3.7

  • ipython (interactive python)

  • matplotlib (plots)

  • numpy (numerical arrays)

  • scipy (fitting and functions)

  • pandas (data frames)

Note

Use a terminal for inputting commands. On MacOS the program is called terminal and on Windows it is called PowerShell. If you are using anaconda or miniconda on Windows you need to start the Anaconda Powershell prompt

Warning

Our tutorial assumes python is interactive python 3, with numpy and matplotlib, so the command ipython3 --pylab if you are familiar with python and have an installation replace ipython3 --pylab with your own command to start python.

Warning

If you plan on using R, you still need to follow the installation instructions below. then follow the R specific instructions on this page Using pyWitness from R.

Installing Python

To use pyWitness, you’ll need python. The easiest way to install python is to install miniconda

Note

After installing miniconda, you must restart any open terminal(s).

Note

You can also use your existing python. For example, if you have already installed anaconda, canopy, etc.

installation miniconda

Installing pyWitness

Now you can install pyWitness in several ways.

  1. Use miniconda (good for users who want an easy installation)

  2. Use pip (good for users who already have python but not miniconda)

  3. Download the ZIP file (good for advanced users who want to see the code)

  4. Clone the git repository (good for users who want to contribute)

1. Miniconda install

Warning

In Windows you will have to open an Anaconda Powershell Prompt (from the Windows start menu)

Open a terminal (MacOS) or Anaconda PowerShell prompt (Windows) and install pyWitness by typing the following code line (or copy and paste) into your terminal or shell

  • conda create --name pyWitness

  • conda activate pyWitness

  • conda install -c conda-forge -c lmickes pyWitness

Note

When you start or restart a terminal, you’ll need to activate your pyWitness environment with conda activate pyWitness

installation conda

2. Pip install

First download the package

Warning

In Windows you will have to open an Anaconda Powershell prompt (from the Windows start menu) before running pip

Then in your terminal (MacOS) or Anaconda Powershell prompt (Windows)

  • pip3 install pyWitness-1.0-py3-none-any.whl

3. Download ZIP file

  1. Download pyWitness (click on green code button -> Download ZIP)

  2. Unpack ZIP file to a directory of your choosing

  3. In a terminal or shell change directory to the pyWitness directory

    • pip3 install --editable . --user

4. Clone GIT repository

Open a terminal (linux in bash) and move to a suitable work directory

git clone https://github.com/lmickes/pyWitness.git
cd pyWitness
pip3 install --editable . --user

To update pyWitness you will have to pull

cd pyWitness
git pull

Testing it works

  1. Open a new terminal and type (or copy and paste) conda activate pyWitness

  2. Start up python ipython3 --pylab

  3. Import pyWitness by typing this code line (or copy and paste)

import pyWitness

If you get “pyWitness v0.1” it’s installed and you can proceed to the tutorials.

testing the installations

Trying it out without installing anything!

  1. Binder can be used to try out the code without installing anything on your computer.

  2. Click the following link (launch binder)

https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg

  1. Then it should open a browser with a notebook interface

Note

Be patient, binder could take time to start up (seriously, a long time, maybe a cup of tea or coffee), don’t click back, don’t get impatient. It is building a virutal computer for you in docker and using jupyter-hub.