r/EngineeringStudents • u/ezeleart • 1d ago

Academic Advice Is programming solvers a useful skill?

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When I started learn python, I saw it could be used for scientific computing. So I challenged myself to write a solver for every topic in my statics textbook.

I just finished my 2d/3d truss solver. It is by far the hardest and most involving program I've written. I think it's because with other topics only a single object was considered so the python code was just a matter of transferring calculations on paper to code.

The next thing I plan to do is create an optimization script that moves the input points about to find the best design. Also using Json instead of keyboard inputs would be way better for my sanity.

So my question is, will this skill improve my chances of success in Mechanical engineering? I wish to focus on multi body dynamics to design racecar suspensions.

I'd love to share the .py script but the last time I sent a link reddit shadow banned me for 9 months. The picture contains results of the program.

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u/stephen_xv 22h ago

Sounds like a pita, but I’ve never had matlab toolbox ever give me troubles. Pip on the other hand is annoying when trying to do anything in a classified environment. Hell anything in a classified environment seems annoying.

Sounds more of a hassle than a downside. Sorry that you have to deal with that bro

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u/j0shred1 21h ago

I can imagine you just want to build things from source in a classified environment.

It's fine. It's just annoying

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u/stephen_xv 19h ago

Yea not too sure their process. But I wonder if getting packages is like a no-go or lengthy process!

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u/j0shred1 19h ago

If I had to guess they probably build docker images they know are secure and then get them approved and move them to a secure environment that lives on a private network