Welcome to your journey of digging into the wonders of the IPython Interactive Computing and Visualization Cookbook, Second Edition (2018)! This guide will walk you through the steps to run the Jupyter notebooks contained within this cookbook, either directly from the cloud or on your own computer.

Running the Code in the Cloud

If you want to quickly explore the recipes without installing anything, you can use Binder. This platform allows you to run most of the Jupyter notebooks directly from your web browser.

• Just click on the launch binder button above. A temporary Jupyter Notebook server will automatically start in the cloud.
• Keep in mind that this environment is not persistent, so any changes you make will be lost after a certain period.

Running the Code on Your Computer

If you prefer to have the code running on your local machine, follow these detailed steps:

• Step 1: Install Git

  First, you need to install git. Follow the instructions on the git website to get it installed.

• Step 2: Download and Install Anaconda

  Next, download and install Anaconda. Choose the Python 3.6, 64-bit version suitable for your operating system (macOS, Linux, or Windows) from the Anaconda website.

• Step 3: Open a Terminal

  Open a terminal (cmd on Windows) to start entering your commands.

• Step 4: Clone the Repository

  Use the following commands to clone the repository:

  git clone https://github.com/ipython-book/cookbook-2nd-code.git
  cd cookbook-2nd-code

• Step 5: Create the Cookbook Conda Environment

  Create the environment using the following command:

  conda env create -f environment.yml

• Step 6: Activate the Environment

  Activate the environment with:

  • On macOS and Linux: source activate cookbook
  • On Windows: activate cookbook
• Step 7: Launch the Jupyter Notebook

  Finally, launch the Jupyter Notebook with this command:

  jupyter notebook

Understanding the Setup: An Analogy

Think of running the Jupyter notebooks like baking a cake. Each of the steps outlined above is akin to preparing your ingredients and baking tools:

• Installing Git and Anaconda are similar to gathering your flour and sugar. You need the right ingredients to get started.
• Cloning the Repository is like pre-measuring your ingredients; you’re pulling all the necessary files from the cookbook into your kitchen (computer).
• Creating the Conda Environment is the equivalent of preheating the oven. It ensures your cake is baked perfectly by setting up the desired cooking conditions (dependencies).
• Activating the Environment means putting your cake in the oven, while finally starting the Jupyter Notebook is when you take your cake out and get ready to savor the delicious recipes you’ve cooked up!

Troubleshooting

In case you encounter issues while executing these steps, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure you have a stable internet connection, especially when downloading Anaconda or cloning the repository.
• If you face permission issues, try running the terminal as an administrator on Windows.
• For missing packages after activating the environment, simply run conda install necessary_package_name.

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Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

Enjoy diving into the recipes, and happy coding!