Python is the free general purpose programming language but by adding dedicated external modules, it can be used for scientific calculations which Matlab can perform.
Essential external modules to perform Matlab-like scientific calculation/ simulation are following three;
After matplotlib 1.3.0, import error has become raised when following two modules are not installed;
◆ pyparsing, dateutil (after 1.3.0), six (after 1.4.0)
After installing Python itself、please install the three modules in the order bellow, using downloaded installers from following ↓ linked sites. Please select the installers matched with Python version then. Compatible Python versions can be found in the installer filenames. (↓ is download link)
Following is the latest version set as of Aug. 4, 2015. (After matplotlib 1.2.0, Python 3.x compatible module has become available)
Python： 2.7.11 (or 3.4.2) (↓) ((Note)) Do not forget to follow [1] bellow after install
NumPy： 1.9.2 (↓)
SciPy： 0.16.0 (↓)
matplotlib： 1.4.3 (↓) ((Note)) In the case memory error is raised upon "import pylab", need to edit font_manager.py following site below.
pyparsing： 2.0.3 (↓) (This module was not needed before matplotlib 1.3.0)
dateutil: 2.3 (↓) (This module was not needed before matplotlib 1.3.0)
six: 1.8.0 (↓) (This module was not needed before matplotlib 1.4.0)
((Japanese font related))
[ reference site: about edit of font_manager.py ] ( need text editor which can edit UNIX text file such like Notepad++ )
http://plog.web-hack.org/2010/11/pylabmemoryerror.html
http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.python.matplotlib.general/551
Please refer to each Web page for details about install.
[1] After Python 2.7 installed, add "-n" (no subprocess) option by editing option in ”Edit with IDLE" in context menu of Explorer.
"D:\Python27\pythonw.exe" "D:\Python27\Lib\idlelib\idle.pyw" -n -e "%1"
^^ add this
In the case of Win7, using "FileTypesMan" (alternate link) is convenient way to do above.
Without this, you cannot manipulate plot figure interactively after script run from IDLE.
(FYI)
Other than above modules, there are many external modules, as an example, there is the module called
and this is convenient module for modeling digital signal (or discrete-event) processing including parallel processing