IN THIS CHAPTER
Discovering the wonders for data science Exploring how data science works Creating the connection between Python and data science Getting started with Python Data science may seem like one of those technologies that youâd never use, but youâd be wrong. Yes, data science involves the use of advanced math techniques, statistics, and big data. However, data science also involves helping you make smart decisions, creating suggestions for options based on previous choices, and making robots see objects. In fact, people use data science in so many different ways that you literally canât look anywhere or do anything without feeling the effects of data science on your life. In short, data science is the person behind the partition in the experience of the wonderment of technology. Without data science, much of what you accept as typical and expected today wouldnât even be possible. This is the reason that being a data scientist is the sexiest job of the twenty-first century.
To make data science doable by someone whoâs less than a math genius, you need tools. You could use any of a number of tools to perform data science tasks, but Python is uniquely suited to making it easier to work with data science. For one thing, Python provides an incredible number of math-related libraries that help you perform tasks with a less-than-perfect understanding of precisely what is
going on. However, Python goes further by supporting multiple coding styles (programming paradigms) and doing other things to make your job easier. Therefore, yes, you could use other languages to write data science applications, but Python reduces your workload, so itâs a natural choice for those who really donât want to work hard, but rather to work smart.
This chapter gets you started with Python. Even though this book isnât designed to provide you with a complete Python tutorial, exploring some basic Python issues will reduce the time needed for you to get up to speed. (If you do need a good starting tutorial, please get Beginning Programming with Python For Dummies, 2nd Edition, by John Mueller (Wiley). Youâll find that the book provides pointers to tutorials and other aids as needed to fill in any gaps that you may have in your Python education.