Julia Tutorial on AI for Mathematical Biology

1.1 Why Julia?

Slow language is not suitable for this task — learning neural networks embedded in differential equations.

In short - Solving two language problems: C++ is fast but difficult; Python is easy but slow. Julia is fast and easy. - Language for Mathematics: writing Julia is just like writing mathematics. - Similar syntax as Matlab; Simple as Python; Fast as C++.

More advantages and disadvantages can be seen in Why Julia? · Julia for Optimization and Learning

1.2 Installation: Julia+VSCode

Julia + VScode

1.2.1 Recommended

We recommend to install Julia via juliaup. We are using the latest, stable version of Julia (which at the time of this writing is v1.10). Once you have installed juliaup you can get any Julia version you want via:

juliaup add $JULIA_VERSION

# or more concretely:
juliaup add 1.10

# but please, just use the latest, stable version

Now you should be able to start Julia and be greeted with the following:

$ julia
               _
   _       _ _(_)_     |  Documentation: https://docs.julialang.org
  (_)     | (_) (_)    |
   _ _   _| |_  __ _   |  Type "?" for help, "]?" for Pkg help.
  | | | | | | |/ _` |  |
  | | |_| | | | (_| |  |  Version 1.10.0 (2023-12-25)
 _/ |\__'_|_|_|\__'_|  |  Official https://julialang.org/ release
|__/                   |

julia>

1.2.2 Alternatives

Julia can also be installed from the official website download page. The appropriate version is the 64-bits version for the Windows operating system in most cases. In case of difficulties, see platform-specific instructions.

1.2.3 Editor

There is no one way to install/develop and run Julia, which may be strange for users coming from MATLAB, but for users of general purpose languages such as Python, C++ this is quite common. Most of the Julia programmers to date are using

Visual Studio Code,
and the corresponding Julia extension.

This setup is described in a comprehensive step-by-step guide in Julia for Optimization & Learning.

For other editors, we refer to Julia IDE

1.3 Packages and Environment Management

Julia manages packages and environments like Rust. Very convenient! Strongly recommendation: go through this document Working with Environment · Pkg.jl quickly.

To set up the same environment as me, you can follow the guides in Song921012/Julia_Tutorial_on_AI4MathBiology

1 Julia Basics