Prerequisites

To get the most out of this course, you should already be comfortable with the basics of Python programming, and you should be familiar with the NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib libraries. It is also helpful to have a basic understanding of files and filesystems.

If you are new to any of these concepts or would like a refresher, a good place to start is the Software Carpentry lessons page, specifically the lessons “Programming with Python”, which covers NumPy and Matplotlib, and “Plotting and Programming in Python”, which covers Pandas and Matplotlib. (Both cover introductory Python materials as well.) For a review of file systems and files, see the Unix shell lesson.

The Python Data Science Handbook is another excellent free online resource for learning Python, NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.

Additionally, it is helpful but not required to have a basic understanding of linear algebra and either basic statistics or probability theory.