First Meeting 5.12.2023

[budschi]

Summary:

• Part one - Talks (find the slide here (link only accessible in VPN/intranet of IKZ)):

  • Carsten's talk: Introduction to Python for research data management
  • Hiroki's talk: Automation of Experiments and Data Acquisition in Python

• Part two - Discussion & Hands-on:

  • Event format:

    • hands-on style
    • and 1 demo of something people use
    • follow up on started projects

  • topics:

    • improve Python workflow, learn best practices, data processing, → how to get started (Ines)
    • Style guide, linting , style conventions (Markus)
    • professional coding, how to do everything in Python
    • collobarotion, git, github
    • use Python on one measurment method
    • image processing (Aravind) → Robert
    • AI assistance: ChatGPT/Copilot for coding

  • Hands-on part:

    • access Jupyter Hub at IKZ's NOMAD Oasis using the instructions given here (link only accessible in VPN/intranet of IKZ)
    • Upload a Introduction to Jupyter Notebook
    • Try to run the Jupyter Notebook

  • Homework/exercise:

    • do the "Hands-on" exercise unitl our next meeting (12.12.2023) and walk through the "Introduction to Jupyter" to familiarize yourself with this tool. Goals: get acces to NOMAD Oasis, learn how to use the Jupyter Hub and how to run Jupyter Notebooks. Ask for help in the group if you get stuck somwhere.
    • optional: register for GitHub and send your GitHub name to Sebastian, so he can add you to the GitHub Team Python Workgroup

• Next Meeting:

  • Tuesday, 12.12.2023, 13:00 to 15:00h at IRIS Room 1.107 (same room as last time)
  • Agenda:
    • Carsten will present typical use case of data processing from an experimental characterization method, a notebook will be shared, so you can follow along or modify afterwards.
    • Bring your own project and get started with it during the second part of the meeting

Misc

Feel free to invite other people or share the links of our content. Communicate what you would like to learn or exchange on in this Python Workgroup.

[lrvie]

It was a nice opportunity for everyone to learn something. I approached a few participants and collected their feedback below.

Positive:

• The two presentations were very interesting and motivating.
• They liked to know that there are people at IKZ willing to help with Python scripting.
• The idea of setting up regular meetings or a help desk is much appreciated.

Negative:

• They did miss an interactive part. Some of them where there only for that and felt like a bit of waste of time that we didn’t practice anything.
• It was difficult to synchronize everybody to open the editor. We should provide them with a documentation on how to do this as homework.
• The less experienced users still feel lost and want more guidance:
  • They do feel exercise sheets would be helpful, like to explain what’s a library, what are data types, etc. (maybe a suggestion on one or two nice online resource for them to follow as homework will do the trick, and then help with questions.)
  • Avoid answering “this you can find online”. They know it, but they want to learn how to formulate questions that will give the answers they are looking for and then filter useful information without getting overwhelmed.

Lastly, we highly welcome your feedback, so don't hesitate in posting comments, requests, suggestions!

[budschi]

Conclusion on our first meeting (same as email from 6.12.2023 20:30h)

Thanks for joining the first meeting of our new Python Workgroup. You can find the documentation of our Python Workgroup Meeting here: https://github.com/orgs/IKZ-Berlin/discussions/1 . Feel free to add your comments in the discussion!

Feedback summary:

We received good feedback for the first part with the talks, but in the second part it was difficult to satisfy all participants (beginners to advanced). Also, we have to admit it was not perfectly prepared and hard to know before how the experience level of the group is. Some of you already got instructions beforehand and had a NOMAD account others, joined spontaneously and did not have all information.

How can we get better:

• Next time we will provide a better instruction sheet!
• Hopefully, everybody is in the mailing lists or knows where to find the information online before we have the meeting. Forward the emails to your colleagues, please!
• We will try to establish better guidance for the beginners/less experienced --> please communicate your needs!
• Experienced users: Send us your requirements before the meeting so we can prepare appropriate topics/exercise for you. --> please communicate your needs!

--> You see it is all about good communication! Do not hesitate and use this opportunity to establish something useful for yourself and your colleagues

We will continue by

• a first part featuring a talk/demo of someone to a specific/requested topic, ideally with a follow along Jupyter notebook
• Second part:
  • exercise for beginners, and exercise/hands-on example for intermediate/advanced
  • or working on your project (Please communicate your wishes!)

Next action points:

• More for the beginners: Do the exercise as described in my post (access to NOMAD, start Jupyter Hub, Upload “introduction Notebook” and run the notebook to familiarize yourself --> this is only interesting for the beginners and people new to NOMAD Oasis.
• If above exercise is mastered, we have one common ground to exchange on Python --> the Jupyter Hub in IKZ NOMAD OASIS
• Optional: register for GitHub and send your GitHub name to Sebastian, so he can add you to the GitHub Team Python Workgroup
• Intermediate/advanced users: bring your problem/project. If required, we can split the group in the second part (hands-on part)
• Please share your ideas to make this event productive for you and the group!

Next Meeting:

• Tuesday, 12.12.2023, 13:00 to 15:00h at IRIS Room 1.107 (same room as last time)
• Agenda:
  • Carsten will present a typical use case of data processing from an experimental characterization method  XRD, a notebook will be shared, so you can follow along or modify afterwards.
  • Second part: hands-on data processing with Python and/or bring your own project and get started with it during the second part of the meeting

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need help with NOMAD Oasis.
Best regards
Sebastian