Feb 21, 2018JupyterLab Beta Release… and Binder!I posted in December about JupyterLab, which was then in alpha preview. It has now been released in beta and I’m excited to put it to use for everything I do using Python. Check out the installation process and features in my previous post. JupyterLab is available on Binder, which…Binder2 min readBinder2 min read
Jan 19, 2018Code Newbie Challenge 2018I just joined Saron Yitbarek’s 2018 Code Newbie Challenge, and for my challenge I chose to blog more. #cnc2018 If you would like to join, sign up here and you’ll get an email with these instructions (along with a few more details): PRE-MISSION: Read 3 tech blog posts you wish…Programming5 min readProgramming5 min read
Dec 8, 2017Getting Started with BashThis is a beginner-oriented post intended to get you comfortable using your *nix-based operating system’s command line for common tasks. More advanced features will be the topic of future posts. The command line is a great way to quickly and efficiently work with files, and sometimes it’s the only way…Terminal8 min readTerminal8 min read
Dec 8, 2017Introduction to JupyterLabI was pleasantly surprised to find JupyterLab packaged with a new installation of Anaconda (Python 3). According to Boyan Angelov, JupyterLab is a “true IDE for interactive computing,” complete with file browser, terminal and code editor (in this case, Jupyter notebooks). The software is still in alpha preview, but appears…Data Science2 min readData Science2 min read
Sep 30, 2017How to Get Started with Open SourceWith Hacktoberfest beginning tomorrow, this seems like a good time to go over how to get started contributing to open source projects. You probably have a sense that contributing is good for your career, but why should you do it? And how do you get started? …Open Source5 min readOpen Source5 min read
Sep 27, 2017Getting Started With Magic FunctionsIf you have any experience with the command line interpreters like BASH, you can utilize some basic CLI command-line calls in Jupyter in the form of predefined functions (“magics”) that utilize command-line-like syntax and are prefaced with % or %%. …Python4 min readPython4 min read
Sep 27, 2017How to use the US Bureau of Labor Statistics APIIf you’re interested in economic data for the United States, there’s really no better source than the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS provides a vast repository of labor market information for the US and its territories, most of it to the county or city level. However, gaining access to the…API4 min readAPI4 min read
Sep 27, 2017Udacity’s Intro to Programming NanodegreeI finally managed to finish the Intro to Programming nanodegree after about three months of off-and-on work. It wasn’t a hugely satisfying experience, but it did have its high points. I struggled for a long time to complete a fill-in-the-blanks quiz using Python 3. The earlier lessons, such as creating…Udacity1 min readUdacity1 min read
Sep 27, 2017Challenges of LearningTeaching yourself to program is difficult for a number of reasons, but I’ve found for myself the biggest problem is distraction. I’ve always been distractible and I’ve found focusing on one thing for an extended period difficult. Learning online exposes a person you insane number of great resources and it’s…Programming4 min readProgramming4 min read
