Part 0: General Class Folder

First, you should create a folder named 'stat207' (we recommend on your Desktop) to hold all of your Python notebooks.

Part 1: Software and Tools for Data Science

The first half of this lab will be spent getting you all set up for the semester – you will only need to do this once.

Part 1a: Installing Software Tools

To begin to do Data Science, you need a few basic tools installed on your computer. All of these tools are free, open-source and industry standard. We have prepared guides based on what type of computer you have:

• Windows and MAC OS X Setup Guide

Part 1b: Creating your STAT 207 git repository

When working in Data Science, you will want to store all of your code and data together, in the cloud, in a “repository”. For this class, we will be using an Illinois-hosted repository called GitHub Enterprise.

• Follow our guide to set up git for Data Science Exploration

Part 1c: Set up your Python notebook

In Data Science, all of our programming will be done in “notebooks”. Your python install will need a few libraries in order to run the notebooks. Using your command line, run the following:

conda install jupyter
conda install pandas
conda install matplotlib
conda install seaborn

Potential Error Workaround: IF you get an error about "conda not found" when trying to do this, you can also install these packages by doing the following.

• Searching for the "miniconda" program you just downloaded, and run what should say "Anaconda Prompt."
• This will open up another command line window that is specifically for running python commands (for instance commands that install packages).
• Run the code in this Anaconda Prompt instead
  

  conda install jupyter
  conda install pandas
  conda install matplotlib
  conda install seaborn
  

This might take a couple of minutes. You will need to type [y] to confirm you want to install of of the packages (the option [y]/n shows that y is default when you choose no option).

You can check what has been installed already using the command:

conda list

Part 2: Complete the “lab_01” Notebooks (Individual and Group)

Part 2a: Fetching the Lab Assignment from the Class Respository

Using your command line, navigate to your stat207 repository (cd Desktop -> cd stat207 -> cd NETID), replacing NETID with your own, and fetch the notebook from our release repository by running the following two git commands:

git fetch release
git merge release/lab_01 -m "Merging initial files"

ONLY IF you get an error related to unrelated histories, use:

git merge release/lab_01 --allow-unrelated-histories -m "Merging initial files" 

Part 2b: Opening the Jupyter Notebooks

One way to open the notebook (may not work)

Open the notebook with the command:

jupyter notebook

Another way to open the notebook: IF you get an error about "jupyter is not recognized" when trying to do this, you can also open the notebook by doing the following.

• Searching for the "miniconda" program you just downloaded, and run what should say "Anaconda Prompt."
• This will open up the Anaconda Command Line window that is specifically for running python commands (for instance commands that install python packages or launch jupyter notebooks).
• If your Anaconda Command line window is not already there, navigate to your stat207 repository (cd Desktop -> cd stat207
• Run the code in this Anaconda Command Line Prompt window instead
  

  jupyter notebook
  

Also another way to open the notebook:

• Search for the the program "jupyter" on your computer and run it.
• This will open a window that displays the file system of your computer. Navigate to the folder your notebook is saved in by clicking on the folder links.
• Once you've found your notebook, click on it to open it

Part 2c: Editing the Jupyter Notebooks (aka Working on the Assignments)

Inside of the notebook webpage:

• Navigate into the folder containing the files lab_01_individual.ipynb and lab_01_group.ipynb open up the notebooks
• Follow the instructions inside of the notebooks.
• lab_01_individual.ipynb is to be completed individually
• lab_01_group.ipynb is to be completed in groups of 2-3. Only one person in a group needs to submit this completed group file. Make sure all teammate names are listed in this file.

Whenever you are done, you should checkpoint (using File -> Save Checkpoint in the notebook) your notebook to save your work. Once your work is saved, you can exit the command line running the notebook with Ctrl + C.

Part 2d: Saving/Submitting your Notebooks back to the Class Repository

When you’re ready to save your work online and/or submit your work, return to the command line and run:

git add -A
git commit -m "submission (or any message here)"
git push origin master