Database Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 2
Getting Started
In this chapter, we are going to make sure that you have all the prerequisites for doing
data science at the command line. The prerequisites fall into two parts: (1) having a
proper environment with all the command-line tools that we employ in this topic,
and (2) understanding the essential concepts that come into play when using the
command line.
First, we describe how to install the Data Science Toolbox, which is a virtual environ‐
ment based on GNU/Linux that contains all the necessary command-line tools. Sub‐
sequently, we explain the essential command-line concepts through examples.
By the end of this chapter, you'll have everything you need in order to continue with
the first step of doing data science, namely obtaining data.
Overview
In this chapter, you'll learn:
• How to set up the Data Science Toolbox
• Essential concepts and tools necessary to do data science at the command line
Setting Up Your Data Science Toolbox
In this topic we use many different command-line tools. The distribution of GNU/
Linux that we are using, Ubuntu, comes with a whole bunch of command-line tools
pre-installed. Moreover, Ubuntu offers many packages that contain other, relevant
command-line tools. Installing these packages yourself is not too difficult. However,
we also use command-line tools that are not available as packages and require a more
manual, and more involved, installation. In order to acquire the necessary command-
