How do particle physicists learn the programming concepts they need?

TL;DR

This paper discusses a training program designed to teach particle physicists essential programming concepts, emphasizing effective software development in high-energy physics and related fields.

Contribution

It introduces the 'Advanced Computing Concepts' training program, detailing its principles, methods, and integration into experimental software development.

Findings

Positive feedback from participants

Successful integration into experiment workflows

Potential for wider application in programming education

Abstract

The ability to read, use and develop code efficiently and successfully is a key ingredient in modern particle physics. We report the experience of a training program, identified as "Advanced Programming Concepts", that introduces software concepts, methods and techniques to work effectively on a daily basis in a HEP experiment or other programming intensive fields. This paper illustrates the principles, motivations and methods that shape the "Advanced Computing Concepts" training program, the knowledge base that it conveys, an analysis of the feedback received so far, and the integration of these concepts in the software development process of the experiments as well as its applicability to a wider audience.