dev-environment.md

Getting Started with Data Science Tools

These items are included in the Data Science prework and are intended to help students prepare for the first day of class.

•   Github Account
  

•   Installations
  

•   Syntax Practice
  

Accounts

1. Create a Github account, if you don't already have one.

Installations

Please follow the installation instructions below.

1. Install Python 2.7 - Note: Make sure to install version 3.6, NOT Python 3, which has significant differences from 2.7. We will be using Python 2.7.

2. Install Anaconda - Follow the installation instructions for your computer (e.g. “Mac Install”). - Test that Anaconda and Python were installed correctly. For example, on a Mac you can by open a Terminal window (or the Anaconda Launcher app on your desktop) and type jupyter notebook. If successful, in a few moments, your browser should open to a window titled "Jupyter."

Start Practicing

Review the following resources as an introduction to some commonly used concepts and tools.

1. Complete Codecademy's free "Learn Python" course to practice your Python syntax. Pay close attention to lists, dictionaries, and functions.

   • Bonus Option: Check out Learn Python the Hard Way and work through exercises 1-10.

2. Review our Command Line tutorial to familiarize yourself with basic Terminal commands. Pay particular attention to folder navigation and file creation.

   • Bonus Option: Run through these additional exercises from Learn Command Line the Hard Way.

3. Read through this 10 minute guide to Pandas to learn about a popular library used for data analysis that we will be using in this course.

   • Bonus Option: Practice your Python by working through Project Euler's computational problems.