Getting started with Cantera

For those new to Cantera, we present here a set of short tutorials to familiarize you with Cantera's basic functionality and basic capabilities, give some examples of how to work Cantera within your preferred interface language—basic function calls and a few simple applications—and demonstrate some basic troubleshooting.

After installing Cantera and finishing these tutorials, you should be ready to begin using Cantera. The next steps, linked below the tutorials, provide information in this regard.

First, let's pick an interface language and get started with the tutorials. Note that while Cantera can be accessed via other interfaces (namely Fortran and directly in C++), Python and Matlab present the most convenient interfaces for learning about Cantera, and are the interface of preference for the vast majority of Cantera users.

Python Tutorial

I want to learn about Cantera via the Python module.

Matlab Tutorial

I want to learn about Cantera via the Matlab toolbox

Advanced: C++ Tutorial

I want to learn about Cantera via the C++ interface

Next Steps

Okay, so you've finished the tutorials and understand the basic user functionality of Cantera. Now what?

Using Cantera for a range of problems will likely require you to extend your knowledge in two ways:

  • You will need an input file describing the phase(s) of matter relevant to your problem.

  • Your application may very well require function calls and routines not necessarily covered in the tutorials.

The links below will help you take the 'next steps,' and point you to:

  • Information on how to locate and work with Cantera input files (which contain the thermodynamic, transport, and chemical kinetic information for the phases of interest).

  • Detailed documentation and user guides for accessing Cantera via Python, Matlab, and directly via C++. For advanced and intermediate users, the documentation is an easily-searchable repository for information on specific functions of interest.

  • A repository of examples, demonstrating how to use Cantera to solve a diverse range of problems. You can either use these examples directly, or use them as a template to develop your own applications.

Cantera Input Files

Learn how to locate and/or create input files.

Users' Guides and Documentation

Locate documentation on specific Cantera functions.

Examples

See examples of Cantera applications