A repository of containing one script (script.py) that is a guide to begin
learning how to perform data analysis in the Python programming language. The script
covers how to read data, assign data to variables, analyze data, and plot data
all using a Spotify user's songs played history that is in song-data.csv.
Note: This tutorial script is almost exactly the same as the one we have presented here in the tutorial on learning to perform data analysis in the R programming language.
The best way to learn Python is to try it out for yourself. After downloading Python and the RStudio development tool, open up RStudio and start running the code to see what it does. For this session:
- Open up RStudio, click
File -> New File -> Text File - Go to
script.pyand copy/paste all the code into your new, blank script - Click
Tools -> Terminal -> New Terminal - In the blinking Terminal window type:
ipython3 - Run commands by copy/pasting them into the Terminal window -or- by pressing
CRTL+ALT+ENTER(CMD+OPTION+ENTERon Mac)
Keep reading for more information on how to set up your computer with Python and RStudio.
First, you need to install Python. Python is an immensely popular general purpose programming language with many libraries. Fortunately, an organization called Anaconda, Inc. has made it easy to install just the libraries that we need for doing data analysis. Start by going to https://www.anaconda.com/download. You should see the options to download Anaconda for Windows, Mac and Linux. Follow the command prompts on your screen just like you would install any other software. Anaconda is just installing a flavor of Python and Python libraries that are all compatible for data analysis.
Next, you should install RStudio. Wait. Why should I install RStudio?! I thought this was a Python programming tutorial! Yes, it's true that 99.9% of Python developers do NOT use RStudio, but if you participated in our R programming workshop you should already have it installed and be familiar with how it looks. If you have it, then you're all set! If you haven't installed RStudio, then keep reading.
When you installed the Anaconda distribution, you only installed the software. It is hard to code directly to the software, so RStudio is an interface (other software) that makes it easier to write code and execute it. Go to https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/#download and pick the installer for your operating system. Again, follow the prompts like you would install any other software on your computer.
If you have trouble installing Python via the Anaconda distribution or RStudio, contact a member of the Darden Data Science club to help you by emailing us at: DataScienceClub@darden.virginia.edu
The data contains 3,274 records on the songs played and 6 attributes about the songs. The attributes cover the basic data captured when playing a song on Spotify, such as the time played, track name, etc. Below are the data definitions:
| Variable | Data Type | Data Definition |
|---|---|---|
| played_at | datetime | The date and time that the song was played |
| track_name | character | The name of the song played |
| explicit | logical | A TRUE/FALSE value indicating whether or not the song lyrics were the explicit version. TRUE means, yes, it was the explicit version |
| duration_ms | double | The length of the song played in milliseconds |
| type | character | One of three values indicating where the song was played from (playlist, artist, or album) |
| playlist_url | character | The URL of the Spotify playlist that the song was on. If missing, then the song was not played from a playlist. |
The best book to learn Python programming for data analysis is called the Python Data Science Handbook by Jake VanderPlas. It is available for free online at: https://jakevdp.github.io/PythonDataScienceHandbook/
The data was taken from a blog that Tamas Szilagyi wrote about analyzing his spotify listening history: http://tamaszilagyi.com/blog/analyzing-my-spotify-listening-history/