Computers are now essential in all branches of science. We use computers to collect, analyze, and store data; to collaborate, and to write manuscripts. Yet most researchers are never taught the equivalent of basic lab skills for research computing.

This lesson covers a set of good computing practices that every researcher can adopt, regardless of computational skill. Informally, it teaches how to not lose your stuff and generally how to be more efficient.

Many of our recommendations are for the benefit of the collaborator every researcher cares about most: their future self (as the joke goes, yourself from 3 months ago doesn’t answer email…).

Practically, future you will either:

• curse current you (bad), or
• thank current you (better).

Adopting good practices is kind to your future self.

So, which habits and practices can save you time in the future and improve your work?

This session will be led by Tim Dennis, director of the UCLA Library Data Science Center