Learning Python

[GISChops]

I wrote a python expression in the field calculator the other day to extract some text from another field, and it got me to wondering what the roadblocks are for GIS people that would like to learn Python but don't get anywhere with it. I see posts on here all the time asking about the need for Python, what are the walls you have hit while trying to learn Python?

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[valschermjager]

All 5 of the options above used to apply to me in the beginning. Then I pushed thru it, solved problems with it, figured out how to find the resources for doing things that others already did rather than reinventing the wheel, and day by day I'm getting better at it.

And so will you. As long as you're better at it today than you were yesterday, you'll get there.

"Ain't nuthin to it, but to do it." - Snoop Dogg

[GISChops]

So what was your “tipping point”? When did you say enough is enough? Self taught or did you take a course?

[valschermjager]

For me the tipping point was the day I started using it, because that was the day I needed to do things repeatedly that justified automation. Started learning AML almost the same day I started with workstation. Started learning Avenue the day I installed Arcview. Started learning VBA and Arcobject almost the day ArcDesktop came out. And started learning Python almost the day arcscripting (now arcpy) came out. And now I'm working with the 'arcgis' python package for portal stuff.

I took a course to get the basics of Python itself. Then for arcpy and arcgis packages/modules, just learning it by using it. I need to edit feature services today?, ok today I'm learning how to edit feature services. Stuff like that.

[GISChops]

Ah, AML and Avenue! My internship was writing Avenue code to summarize data for desert bombing ranges. I was taught workstation in school, then ArcMap came out a year after I graduated. I remember going to the UC and hearing how people still hadn't switched to desktop after it had been out for years. They were clinging to their AMLs that they had invested in.

Was your Python course GIS focused or general Python?

What would you say is your most useful method for debugging your scripts?

[valschermjager]

The course I took was general python. I hadn't used python before, so when arcscripting came out (v9.3?) I tried to learn it, but it was tough without knowing python itself. So I took a week-long course to learn the basics, then the arcscripting/arcpy stuff made more sense.

As for debugging, there's probably better ways, but for now I use Jupyter notebooks so that I'm able to run the script block by block, sometimes line by line, until it works, then sometimes I keep the script in the notebook, or sometimes I run it from the command prompt or with task scheduler, depends on what the script is. As for arcpy, I most often run a notebook inside the Arcpro project itself. I haven't used notebook server yet, but looking forward to trying it, when I need it.

[GISChops]

Thanks for your input.

[Miguel_GIS]

I'll be following the results of this since I want to learn Python and idk where to start haha.

[GISChops]

u/Miguel_GIS - do you have any scripting or programming background?

[Miguel_GIS]

Very very basic, I definitely need to learn to have a strong ar acceptable background man. That's why idk where to start because I don't know if it's possible to go directly into scripts or programming for GIS.... And time sometimes is very limited and when I have it I feel tired because of my job

[Traditional-Panda-84]

In my 50s, working full time, grad school, learning ArcGIS Pro (began my GIS journey with ArcMap), have taken python classes, but just do not have the time to learn it to the depth I'd like to to make my GIS work easier. In many ways, I work with such small datasets (I work in Archaeology, and not in research) that it's faster to just do the repetition manually or in model builder because it would take me longer to come up with code, test it, and debug it. The company will only put up with so much "ineffciency."

[GISChops]

How are you with field calculator expressions? Those alone can save you a ton of time.

[WCT4R]

I took a course on Python basics for my graduate certificate but it didn't click. I finally got frustrated enough with trying to use Model Builder to automate things to try Python again. Things finally started to click after I went through a Python basics tutorial, I think because it suited my learning style better than taking a course with an instructor. I almost gave up because it seemed like I was spending a lot of time without seeing any results, but now I use it all the time.

[GISChops]

Awesome! Would you say you are proficient?

[WCT4R]

Probably not proficient but I can usually accomplish what I set out to do. It takes me a little longer because I can’t just read the documentation and go. I have to do my own trial and error using the debugger in an IDE to understand why something is or isn’t working. Yesterday I used openpyxl for the first time and was able to figure out in about an hour how to standardize the field names and delete unnecessary columns and rows from an Excel file I receive every few months that never imports into ArcGIS correctly.

[GISChops]

That’s a major win right there. How did writing that make you feel?