Students must have a Python installation and required packages before class. I won't require you to have any specific Python distribution; if you can do the following you are ready for class. If you cannot, please see the section Package installation.
Pre-class checklist:
- Open a terminal
- Run
jupyter notebook(this should open your web browser) - Create a new notebook (select the Python option)
- In your notebook, type the follwing and press Shift-Enter.
import pandas
import sklearn
import matplotlib
If that all runs without an error, you are ready for class.
The easiest way to get this all up and running is to download the Miniconda distribution of Python. Choose version 3.7.
Once you have Miniconda installed, we will install the Python analytics packages we'll need for class. Open a terminal. On OSX, press Command-Enter and type Terminal. On Windows, try any of these.
In your terminal window, run
conda install pandas scikit-learn matplotlib jupyter
This will install the required packages into your Miniconda distribution.
Now in your terminal, run jupyter notebook. If this opens a page in your web
browser, and if the installation of the packages didn't have any errors, you
are ready for class.
This material adapted from Lilyanne Zhang's tutorial here.