c566aabe16
- Convert the modules list into a Sections table with topic and description columns, matching the structure of the cli-walkthrough README for consistency across the two repos. - Add a Next steps section pointing readers to cli-walkthrough as the natural sequel once they are comfortable with their machine and can pull updates with git. - Trim the "How to use this guide" section into a shorter Getting started block, again matching cli-walkthrough. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>
44 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
44 lines
2.3 KiB
Markdown
# Computing Setup
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A short, hands-on guide to getting your machine ready for scientific computing work. Inspect your hardware and operating system, install git, and learn enough to clone and pull from public repositories — the essentials before starting any computing course or project.
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## Sections
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| # | Topic | Description |
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|---|-------|-------------|
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| [01](01-know-your-machine/) | **Know your machine** | Identify your OS, CPU, RAM, storage, and GPU. Learn the commands to query each on macOS, Linux, and Windows, and understand how the WSL virtual machine differs from the physical hardware. |
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| [02](02-git-basics/) | **Git basics** | Install git, configure your identity, clone a public repository, and pull updates. Pull-focused — authentication and pushing come later. |
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This guide is designed for students starting a computing course, but should be useful for anyone setting up a new machine or getting acquainted with one they already own. A follow-on module on git collaboration (authentication, branching, merging, pushing) is planned.
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## Prerequisites
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- A terminal — Terminal or iTerm on macOS, any terminal emulator on Linux, or PowerShell on Windows
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- No prior command line or git experience required
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**Windows users — no extra setup to start.** You can work through most of module 01 using PowerShell alone. You will want the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) before tackling module 02 (git) and the optional WSL section at the end of module 01. See [WSL.md](WSL.md) when you get there.
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## Getting started
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You can read each module right here on the web — no setup is needed to begin. Once you have completed module 02 (git), you can optionally clone the repository for offline access:
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```bash
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git clone https://lem.che.udel.edu/git/furst/computing-setup.git
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cd computing-setup
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```
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Each section has its own `README.md` with a walkthrough and exercises.
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## Next steps
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Once you are comfortable with your machine and can pull updates with git, learn to *use* the command line:
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- [**cli-walkthrough**](https://lem.che.udel.edu/git/furst/cli-walkthrough) — a hands-on tour of the Unix command line: navigation, file manipulation, searching, processes, scripting, and remote access. The natural sequel to this guide.
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## License
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MIT
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## Author
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Eric M. Furst, University of Delaware
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