Mastering Python Data Visualization

Generate effective results in a variety of visually appealing charts using the plotting packages in PythonAbout This Book• Explore various tools and their strengths while building meaningful representations that can make it easier to understand data• Packed with computational methods and algorithms in diverse fields of science• Written in an easy-to-follow categorical style, this book discusses some niche techniques that will make your code easier to work with and reuseWho This Book Is ForIf you are a Python developer who performs data visualization and wants to develop existing knowledge about Python to build analytical results and produce some amazing visual display, then this book is for you. A basic knowledge level and understanding of Python libraries is assumed.What You Will Learn• Gather, cleanse, access, and map data to a visual framework• Recognize which visualization method is applicable and learn best practices for data visualization• Get acquainted with reader-driven narratives and author-driven narratives and the principles of perception• Understand why Python is an effective tool to be used for numerical computation much like MATLAB, and explore some interesting data structures that come with it• Explore with various visualization choices how Python can be very useful in computation in the field of finance and statistics• Get to know why Python is the second choice after Java, and is used frequently in the field of machine learning• Compare Python with other visualization approaches using Julia and a JavaScript-based framework such as D3.js• Discover how Python can be used in conjunction with NoSQL such as Hive to produce results efficiently in a distributed environmentIn DetailPython has a handful of open source libraries for numerical computations involving optimization, linear algebra, integration, interpolation, and other special functions using array objects, machine learning, data mining, and plotting. Pandas have a productive environment for data analysis. These libraries have a specific purpose and play an important role in the research into diverse domains including economics, finance, biological sciences, social science, health care, and many more. The variety of tools and approaches available within Python community is stunning, and can bolster and enhance visual story experiences.This book offers practical guidance to help you on the journey to effective data visualization. Commencing with a chapter on the data framework, which explains the transformation of data into information and eventually knowledge, this book subsequently covers the complete visualization process using the most popular Python libraries with working examples. You will learn the usage of Numpy, Scipy, IPython, MatPlotLib, Pandas, Patsy, and Scikit-Learn with a focus on generating results that can be visualized in many different ways. Further chapters are aimed at not only showing advanced techniques such as interactive plotting; numerical, graphical

Kirthi Raman is currently working as a lead data engineer with Neustar Inc, based in Mclean, Virginia USA. Kirthi has worked on data visualization, with a focus on JavaScript, Python, R, and Java, and is a distinguished engineer. Previously, he worked as a principle architect, data analyst, and information retrieval specialist at Quotient, Inc. Kirthi has also worked as a technical lead and manager for a start-up.He has taught discrete mathematics and computer science for several years. Kirthi has a graduate degree in mathematics and computer science from IIT Delhi and an MS in computer science from the University of Maryland. He has written several white papers on data analysis and big data.