The Top-20 Programming Languages

Here's the latest TIOBE index: https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index/

• Learn Python, it's that simple!
• Or, one of the many versions of C!
• Don't bother with any of the other!

The End of GIS: AI!

The AI Revolution is Coming for GIS: What You Need to Know About Microsoft’s Latest Warning is a pretty dire read...but you probably should add 5-10 years to this timeline. Here are a few take-home messages for me:

• The impact will be most-significant on the entry-level jobs.
• But, field work and basic project management will still be around for a while.
• Coding is still a key skill, but it will be all about AI-assisted coding in the very near future. But, you will need to have a good understanding of coding and how AI 'thinks' in-order to effectively prompt the AI.
• Take an online class in maschine learning for geospatial applications.
• Combine GIS expertise with complementary skills such as urban planning, environmental science, and more.

Nerd Alert: Python, The Documentary!

Read more about it here: Python, the movie! The programming language’s origin story comes to the silver screen. Then watch it!

Want more? Here's the NumPy and SciPy video.

Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics (2nd Edition)

Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics 2nd Edition is out! The 1st Edition was great so go get the 2nd one.

Python in Excel

Nerd alert: Python in Excel!

Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (MGET)

The Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (MGET) (by Duke University) is a free, open-source geoprocessing toolbox that can help you solve a wide variety of marine research, conservation, and spatial planning problems.

There you have it - somehow it connects ArcGIS & R via Python.

Stats with R or Python!

Nerd alert: An Introduction to Statistical Learning is now available in two versions - one with applications in R and one with applications in Python. That's already pretty awesome & now add that both versions are free to download as a PDF!

From Python to R

The Starter Guide For Transitioning Your Python Projects To R walks you through the differences between Python and R and includes a nice tutorial.

Scientific Visualization: Python + Matplotlib

Scientific Visualization: Python + Matplotlib (by Nicolas Rougier) is a free open-source book about, well, scientific data viz using these two tools. Read as a PDF, order a printed copy, and dig around on the GitHub for sources and code examples.

The PYPL

 The PYPL Index is the PopularitY of Programming Language Index and comes with a cool interactive chart and the data are visualized here in a video: https://youtu.be/DL37toLMCJ8.

What does all that mean? Well, in my opinion, if you have a choice: learn on of the Top-10 languages (unless you have a very specific reason to learn Lua or Haskell or Dart.

Python Scripting and ArcGIS Pro

Looks like Esri Press is releasing two new books: Python Scripting for ArcGIS Pro and Advanced Python Scripting for ArcGIS Pro.

R, RStudio, RStudio Cloud

R is a programming language or a software environment for statistical analysis, scientific computing, and graphics. RStudio is an IDE for using R. In other words: You can use R without using RStudio, but you can't use RStudio without using R. Finally, there is RStudio Cloud.

Now, just be aware: R is open-source, but RStudio is not.

Docker, Binder, Colaboratory, and more

If you are interested in any of these: Make code accessible with these cloud services (Nature 7 November 2019). Try Binder @ https://mybinder.org/.

Python and ArcGIS Pro

Nice 4-part series about using Python in ArcGIS Pro by Olivia Iannone (Esri). Plus good courses offered by Esri:

1. https://www.esri.com/training/catalog/57630436851d31e02a43f13c/python-for-everyone/
2. https://www.esri.com/training/catalog/5763042c851d31e02a43ed84/python-scripting-for-geoprocessing-workflows/

Julia

Julia = the speed of C with the convenience of Python. If you don't know what any of this means...have a look at Julia: come for the syntax, stay for the speed, download Julia, and start your coding with Juno.

Blockly

Blockly is a visual programming 'interface' that uses interlocking blocks to create a programming 'workflow'. Then, on the right, the underlying code is displayed in JavaScript, Python, etc. Looks interesting - I wish they would provide clearer instructions (= without the jargon) on how to install and setup Blockly.

Jupyter

Jupyter is a free and open-source computational notebook - think your good old orange field book, but for data science-type work. This article in Nature is a nice introduction. Google is in the game as well with Colaboratory.

Mastering Geospatial Analysis with Python

Mastering Geospatial Analysis with Python looks like a great book for those interested in using Python for geospatial analysis.

Scientific Programming with Python

https://www.ats.amherst.edu/software/scipy/

DigitalOcean eBook: How To Code in Python

DigitalOcean eBook: How To Code in Python looks promising: a nice (free) eBook in various formats and good ideas on how to teach and learn coding with Python. Nice OER option!

• How To Code in Python 3 (eBook as PDF)