To parse data from a CSV or Excel file and plot it with matplotlib. Examples include: parsing local crime data and visualizing how often crime happens on Mondays versus Thursdays, etc.

• Python 2.x

• git

• virtualenv You can either download directly, or:

  • Mac: $ sudo easy_install virtualenv
  • Ubuntu: $ sudo apt-get virtualenv
  • Fedora: $ sudo yum install python-virtualenv
  • Windows: Download manually

• virtualenvwrapper You can either download it directly, or:

  • Mac: $ sudo easy_install virtualenvwrapper
  • Ubuntu: $ sudo apt-get virtualenvwrapper
  • Fedora: $ sudo yum install python-virtualenvwrapper
  • For Mac, Ubuntu, and Fedora:
    • $ export WORKON_HOME=~/Envs
    • $ mkdir -p $WORKON_HOME
    • $ source /usr/local/bin/virtualenvwrapper.sh
  • Windows: Download manually and follow install instructions

• Note: If you are running zsh, check out oh-my-zsh. You can easily activate virualenv and virtualenvwrapper as a plugin in your .zshrc file.

Within your terminal

• $ cd to get to your 'Home' directory
• $ mkdir Projects && cd Projects to create a new 'Projects' folder and move to that directory. You can name it whatever you want, just remember what you named it, and where it is.
• $ git clone https://github.com/econchick/new-coder.git This clones the New Coder project into the directory you're currently in, which is Projects (unless you named it something else).
• $ cd new-coder/dataviz Change into the Data Viz project.
• $ mkvirtualenv DataVizProj Make a virtual environment specific to your Data Viz project. You should see (DataVizProject) before your prompt, now.
• (DataVizProject) $ pip install -r requirements.txt Now installing package requirements for this project. Your virtual environment will store the required packages in a self-contained area to not mess up with other Python projects.

Just to show the ease of virtualenv and virtualenvwrapper:

• (DataVizProject) $ deactivate You've deactivated your virtual environment. You will not have access to those packages we've downloaded until we reactivate the virtual environment again.
• $ workon DataVizProject The virtual environment now is reactivated. The packages you previously installed are now accessible. You should see (DataVizProject) before your prompt again.
• (DataVizProject) $ pip freeze This will show you the installed packages in this virtual environment.

Don't forget to deactivate your virtual environment after you're all done!

Within your terminal:

• (DataVizProject) $ cd new-coder/dataviz/lib/full_source
• (DataVizProject) $ python dataviz.py --csvfile=<absolute path to csv file> --type=[Days, Type, Map] --delimiter=<csv file delimiter>

Within your terminal:

• (DataVizProject) $ cd new-coder/dataviz/lib/tutorial_source
• Open the desired file (parse.py, graph.py, or map.py) in a text editor
• Edit the my_file variable to the full path of your csv file
• Save and return to your terminal
• (DataVizProject) $ python [parse.py | graph.py | map.py ]