The SciPy stack consists of Python along with the most commonly used scientific, mathematical, and ML libraries. (visit: scipy.org). These include NumPy, Matplotlib, the SciPy library itself, and IPython. The packages can be installed individually on top of an existing Python installation, or as a complete distribution (distro). The easiest way to get started is using a distro, if you have not got Python installed on your computer. The major Python distributions are available for most platforms, and they contain everything you need in one package. Installing all the packages and their dependencies separately does take some time, but it may be an option if you already have a configured Python installation on your machine.
Most distributions give you all the tools you need, and many come with powerful developer environments. Two of the best are Anaconda (www.continuum.io/downloads) and Canopy (http://www.enthought.com/products/canopy/). Both have free and commercial...
