Errata #1

Thanks to the generous person who submitted the following error in the ebook.
It is in the section on mathematical operations on complex numbers.

In the book (a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + b) + (c + d)i
Should be (a + bi) + (c + di) = (a + c) + (b + d)i

In the book (a + bi) – (c + di) = (a - b) + (c - d)i
Should be (a + bi) – (c + di) = (a - c) + (b - d)i

I'll update the ebook asap and you should be able to request Amazon Kindle to get an updated version at no extra cost. I understand the updates aren't always automatically pushed out by Amazon.

UPDATE: Amazon Kindle ebook is now updated with this correction.

CreateSpace Paperback

Make Your Own Mandelbrot is now available as a paperback from CreateSpace. You'll be able ot get paperbacks from Amazon soon.

Thanks for the feedback from those of you who prefer a real book in your hands over a glowing electronic thing!

Google IPython?

IPython is great.

It's a full Python, with many of the most useful and popular extensions for numerical computing and visualisation.

For many, it is the place to do both Python programming, numerical computing and data science.

Even better, IPython can be pure web. That is, you can work with it, fully and interactively,  using only a modern web browser. No need to install and configure any software at all. This is immensely powerful, because you can keep your work in the cloud, leave and carry on at a later time from any device with a browser, be that a laptop or a tablet, or even a smartphone.

Now imagine Google with its vast compute and storage resources offered an IPython service. That would be an immensely powerful combination.

And Google could. They love Python, their App Engine runs it. There's a "numerical compute and cloud programming" gap in their web app range.

Plus they'd love the social sharing of IPython notebooks.

When, not if?

Raspberry Pi for Younger Learners

The Raspberry Pi is perfect for younger learners. It's simple, cheap, fun and a great way to learn about computer hardware and programming. For all these reasons the Pi is increasingly popular in schools and for home education.

The Raspberry Pi, and much of tutorial ecosystem around it, promotes Python as an ideal programming language - and quite right too!

I intend to get a Pi for my own child, and will confirm that the content of the ebook works, and I'll explain any special steps you have to take to install IPython, if any at all.

Of course, you're still encouraged to use the cloud based IPython, from continuum.io for example, because all you need is a browser, with no need for software installation of configuration.

Perfect for the Pi!