Primer on ILC Physics and SiD Software Tools

We first outline the Standard Model (SM) of particle physics, particle production and decay, and the expected signal and background at a Higgs factory like the International Linear Collider (ILC). We then introduce high energy colliders and collider detectors, and briefly detail the ILC and the Silicon Detector (SiD), one of the two detectors proposed for the ILC. Next we review the available software tools for ILC event generation, SiD detector simulation, and event reconstruction. Finally we suggest open avenues in research for detector optimization and physics analysis. The pedagogical level is suitable for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students.