Python has become one of the most popular programming languages in the world, according to multiple polls and metrics. This popularity is, to no small extent, a direct result of the simplicity of the language, its power, and scalability, allowing it to run even large-scale applications, such as Dropbox, YouTube, and many others. It becomes even more valuable with the rise in the adoption of machine learning techniques and algorithms, including state-of-the-art algorithms on the edge of scientific advancements.
Consequently, there are hundreds of books, courses, and online tutorials on different aspects of programming, machine learning, data processing, and more. Many sources highlight the importance of learning-by-doing and building your own projects. Connecting the dots and structuring all this vast knowledge into one big picture is not an easy task. Seeing the big picture, in our opinion, is critical for the completion of any project. Indeed, there are plenty of options and decisions to take at every step. It is the grand schema of a project as a whole that helps you make those decisions, focus on what matters, and spend your time wisely.
This book is designed to be an entry point for any newcomer or novice developer, aiming to cover the whole life cycle of a data-driven application. By the end of it, you will be able to write arbitrary Python code, collect and process data, explore it, and build your own packages, dashboards, and APIs. Multiple notes and tips point to alternative solutions or decisions, allowing you to alternate code for your specific needs.
This book will be a useful resource if any of the following apply to you:
- You have just started to code.
- You know the basics but struggle to build something handy.
- You know your specific domain well—whether it be statistics, machine learning, or development—but lack experience in other parts of building a project.
- You're an experienced developer with little exposure to Python, trying to learn about the Python package's ecosystem.
If you feel you fall into any of those categories, or want to build a project from scratch for other reasons, please join us on this journey.