Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
Getting Started with Python for Data Scientists (datacommunitydc.org)
94 points by rayvega on March 17, 2013 | hide | past | favorite | 9 comments



You can get all these tools easily from the Anaconda Python Distribution, which is free, well supported,and includes all packages mentioned plus way more, including things like scikits learn. I work for continuum

http://continuum.io/downloads.html


I can't tell from the front page or the documentation, but which version of python does it install? (I have a bit of a fragile setup at the moment and too lazy to spin up a VM)


It will install itself without messing with your system python. In addition, you can then use the conda command to install a number of versions:

  conda create -n py3 python=3.3 anaconda
  conda create -n py27 python=2.7 anaconda
That will create environments envs/py3 and envs/py27 inside your anaconda install directory.


Here you go:

    $ python --version
    Python 2.7.3 :: Anaconda 1.4.0 (64-bit)
It installs to a directory so you basically just add it to your path to get it working it doesn't change anything else on your install.

Beware though that you don't use virtualenvs with it but you use their tool conda to create your environments


The list appears to be missing the great scikitlearn (http://scikit-learn.org/stable/auto_examples/index.html).


The Enthought Python Distribution (EPD) includes most of these packages including but not limited to

    sklearn
    pandas
    numpy
    scipy 
    matplotlib
    statsmodels
and much more. It also has a 1-click installer. It has a free academic version.

http://www.enthought.com/products/epd.php

PS - I am not associated with Enthought in any way whatsoever.


Does easy_install not install these them for some reason?


scipy/numpy has compile time dependencies which can take some time to resolve.


Python Tools for Visual Studio http://pytools.codeplex.com/ is one of the best Python development environments out there and wasn't mentioned. The code completion is probably second-to-none. Nice video on the editing experience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CoGsSlrxKk&hd=1




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: