HPC Workshop Spring 2026

Module 4 of 8 - How to run Python on Cypress

Download examples:

git clone https://gitlab.tulane.edu/fuji/hpc-workshop.git

What is Python?

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components.

• ​Python

Python 2 or 3

Python 3 was incompatible with Python 2.

Python2

The last version of Python 2, released in 2010, was Python 2.7. Support for this version ended on January 1, 2020.

# HELLO PYTHON
import datetime
import socket

now = datetime.datetime.now()
print 'Hello, world!'
print now.isoformat()
print socket.gethostname()

Python3

Python 3 was not just another version of Python 2 code. Python 3 introduced new syntax to prevent redundant or repetitive code.

# HELLO PYTHON
import datetime
import socket

now = datetime.datetime.now()
print('Hello, world!')
print(now.isoformat())
print(socket.gethostname())

Python2 or Python3 ?

• If you are new to Python and plan to write Python code, you should use Python 3.
• If you use a Python application downloaded from another source, check its documentation to determine which version of Python is required.
  • Only use Python 2 if you are required to run or maintain a legacy application that specifically depends on it.

Why use an HPC Cluster?

• tasks take too long
  • When the task to solve becomes heavy on computations, the operations are typically outsourced from the local laptop or desktop to elsewhere. 
  • Your computation may execute more efficiently if the code supports multithreading or multiprocessing.

• one server is not enough
  • When a single computer can’t handle the required computation or analysis, the work is carried out on larger groups of servers.

How to run Python on Cypress

• Python Modules
• Running Python Interactively
• Running Python with Batch Mode

Creating CONDA Virtual Environment and Installing Packages

• Install Packages to Anaconda Python
• CONDA Virtual Environment

Jupyter Notebook

• Jupyter Notebook

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