Evan Pretti

About me

I live in the Santa Barbara, California area with my wonderful wife, Sherry.

One day, I might take the time to write more about myself here. Until then, you'll have to figure things out yourself.

Miscellaneous software and tools

These are some small tools I have written, either for fun or to address particular needs that I have had.

• A Vim syntax highlighting script for the PDB (Protein Data Bank) file format. There is also a Vim script to automatically apply this syntax=vim highlighting to .pdb and .ent files. The former and the latter, respectively, should be placed in ~/.vim/syntax/ and ~/.vim/ftdetect/ assuming that ~/.vim/ is the main Vim data directory. The highlighting rules are based on version 3.3 of the PDB format specification. This Python script and accompanying grammar data file can be used to generate the syntax highlighting file, along with a dummy test.pdb file useful for testing the color scheme.
• A visualization tool for sequences defined via linear recurrence relations (like the Fibonacci and Lucas sequences).
• A tool for performing conversions between character sets.
• A C program for solving sudoku puzzles. Try for example:

  $ cc -o sudoku sudoku.c
  $ ./sudoku <<< 8__________36______7__9_2___5___7_______457_____1___3___1____68__85___1__9____4__

  Compile with -DTRACE for information on what is happening internally as the solver works (this will produce a large amount of output that you may wish to redirect to a file).
• An online version of the sudoku solver above. This is essentially a direct port from C to JS with a few improvements which I may backport to the C version at some point. There are a few examples which can be loaded into the solver. Type or paste directly into the cells; any keystrokes or characters registered which are not valid digits will be registered as blanks.
• A C program for rendering interference patterns like this one, and a Python script for looking at the output of the C program. The Python script requires Pillow to run. Suggested usage is:

  $ cc -o interference interference.c
  $ ./interference
  $ ./imager.py interference.dat

  Options are in #defines, and defining different arrangements of point sources requires manual adjustment of the code.

Bookshelf

Various things that I've either read and liked, or that I find useful as references. Not an exhaustive list.

• Mathematics and applied numerical methods
  • Abramowitz, M. and Stegun, I. A., eds.. Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables; Dover, 1965.
  • Hamming, R. W. Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers, 2^nd ed.; Dover, 1986.
• Thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and molecular simulation
  • Allen, M. P. and Tildesley, D. J. Computer Simulation of Liquids; Oxford, 2017.
  • Callen, H. B. Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, 2^nd ed.; Wiley, 2005.
  • Dill, K. A. and Bromberg, S. Molecular Driving Forces: Statistical Thermodynamics in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Nanoscience, 2^nd ed.; Garland, 2011.
  • Frenkel, D. and Smit, B. Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications; Elsevier, 2002.
  • Hill, T. L. An Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics; Dover, 1986.
  • Hill, T. L. Statistical Mechanics: Principles and Selected Applications; Dover, 1987.
  • Mayer, J. E. and Mayer, M. G. Statistical Mechanics, 2^nd ed.; Wiley, 1977
  • Panagiotopoulos, A. Z. Essential Thermodynamics; Drios, 2014.
  • Shell, M. S. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics; Cambridge, 2015.
• Chemical engineering modeling and design
  • Graham, M. D. and Rawlings, J. B. Modeling and Analysis Principles for Chemical and Biological Engineers; Nob Hill, 2013.
  • Rawlings, J. B. and Ekerdt, J. G. Chemical Reactor Analysis and Design Fundamentals, 2^nd ed.; Nob Hill, 2013.
• Christianity and theology
  • Alexander, T. D. From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch, 4^th ed.; Baker, 2022.
  • Frame, J. M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief; Presbyterian & Reformed, 2013.
  • Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed; 1961.
  • Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity; 1952.
  • Lewis, C. S. The Four Loves; 1960.
  • Lewis, C. S. The Great Divorce; 1946.
  • Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters; 1942.
  • Robertson, O. P. The Christ of the Covenants; Presbyterian & Reformed, 1980.
  • Williamson, G. I. The Westminster Shorter Catechism: For Study Classes, 2^nd ed.; Presbyterian & Reformed, 2003.

Favorite passages from the Bible

Not an exhaustive list by any means.

• John 1:1–5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
• Romans 8:1–2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
• Ephesians 2:4–10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
• Philippians 2:5–11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Colossians 1:15–20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Travel

• U.S. states I've been in: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, VT, WV.
• States I haven't been in yet (but want to go to some day): AK, AL, AR, HI, IA, ID, LA, ME, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, OR, RI, SD, TN, WA, WI, WY.
• I drove a large portion of CA–1 and took a few pictures.

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