Recommended resources for every learner.
There are plenty of great resources for learning Python and pandas, both online and offline. Luckily, most of them (like this humble website) are free! Below are some resources I recommend from my own experience. Some resources (books, subscriptions) are paid, but all of them have turned out great investments in my own Python skills. If you choose to invest in any of the paid resources below, you are supporting this site. So thanks for that!
Websites, services, articles
- SQL2pandas Cheat Sheet - This cheat sheet lists several commonly used statements for querying data in SQL, and their pandas counterparts. Use it as a reference to quickly find the correct pandas method for your needs. Get a printer-friendly version here.
- pandas documentation - Maintained by the pandas development team. It has descriptions on every detail of every function, often with examples. Although complete, it can be a bit overwhelming for the absolute Python beginner.
- DataCamp - This was my personal entry into data science using Python and SQL. By offering hundreds of courses consisting of short videos followed by short programming exercises, DataCamp gradually builds your data-skills. DataCamp allows you to explore and develop many different aspects of working with data, with complete tracks designed for aspiring data analysts, data scientists, data engineers, machine learning scientists and AI scientists. All courses are taught by experts in their fields. Besides courses covering Python and SQL, DataCamp offers an equally large collection of courses on R, and smaller skills courses such as Git. You can put your skills to the test by taking on one of the many projects, which range from beginner level to advanced, or by using their skills assessments. Although courses lack depth for the more advanced data professional, it is a great starting point for anyone looking to start his or her data career. Available on DataCamp.com.
- Anaconda - The Anaconda Distribution is more or less a one-stop shop for working with data using Python and R. I personally use Jupyter Notebook a lot, allowing to share, annotate and quickly test (parts of) code. Although a bit bulky in terms of GBs on disk, it offers the convenience of coming with many modules pre-installed so you can hit the ground running after installation. Available for free on Anaconda.com.
- stackoverflow - Chances are, you are going to run into errors, challenges, and problems using Python. You can be (almost) sure that someone else faced similar situations before you. stackoverflow is a great place to start looking for answers to questions that you and many others before you had. But before firing away with your own problems, be sure to check whether your question was asked and answered before! Users on stackoverflow can be nasty towards beginners who in their eyes are 'wasting their time' with their questions -- but you'll find they always have time to complain about it.
- r/learnpython & r/python - These reddit pages are a great place to find answers to questions, find inspiration for a new project or discussion in general. Especially people in r/learnpython seem to be far more welcoming and willing to help beginners out than on stackoverflow. Also, people share links to (temporarily) free resources here, so make sure to check in every now and then.
Books
Python for Data Analysis (Wes McKinney) Find it on Amazon
This is basically the pandas bible. This is not strange given that Wes McKinney, the writer of this book, is the creator of pandas. Reading this book allowed me to understand better how pandas works, and learn to 'think' pandas rather than simply see what sticks. Just like the pandas documentation website, I regularly use this book as a reference for anything pandas related. Available on Amazon.
Automate the Boring Stuff with Python (Al Sweigart) Find it on Amazon
This book was my intro to Python and I can recommend it to anyone looking to make their first steps in programming. Al Sweigart triggers the imagination of what you can do with Python, and makes learning Python a fun experience for the beginner. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is digitally available on automatetheboringstuff.com for free, and on Amazon as a book. Typically, the Automate the Boring Stuff Udemy course is available at a steep discount, and from time to time completely for free! The first 15 lessons of the Udemy course are available for free on Sweigart's YouTube channel. Available on Amazon and Udemy (full course).
Introducing Python (Bill Lubanovic) Find it on Amazon
There is something about O'Reilly books that makes me want to pick one up whenever I'm learning something new. Learning Python is another example of this. Bill Lubanovic starts from the very basics and gradually builds from there. Although Learning Python focuses on software development more than data analytics/science, it helped me grow my Python toolbox, allowing me to work more effectively and efficiently. My copy is a first edition from 2014, but recently a completely updated second edition was published. Available on Amazon.
Data Science from Scratch (Joel Grus) Find it on Amazon
'Data Science' is a big term that for many beginners starts with importing modules, training models and categorizing flowers in 10 lines of code. You probably already guessed that there must be more going on behind the scenes. Data Science from Scratch gives you a look behind the scenes by building tools that perform tasks that data scientists use every day -- from scratch :). Although in reality you'll import modules to perform a lot of tasks, building from scratch builds your Python skills and data science understanding. I liked this unconventional approach. It helped me scratch my itch in learning the mechanics of data science better. Available on Amazon.