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Ask HN: How much programming experience you need to become a data scientist?

18 points by HeyShayBY 11y ago

Makes more sense to have a statistic background than computer science background, right?

shoo 11y ago
i've heard it characterised something like this: you need to program better than the average statistician, and apply statistics better than the average programmer.
- JimmyAustin 11y ago
  Fortunately in my experience neither of these is particularly hard.
- HeyShayBY 11y ago
  Hahaha, I LOVE It! You have experience in data analysis yourself?
- liamconnell 11y ago
  I think the bar is a LITTLE higher now. If I could add one skill, its being able to read math language. It's a great skill to be able to read about a new technique on arxiv or a blog and be able to understand it beyond the surface level. In fact being mathematically literate is really the bee's knees. Its why I suggest anyone in a stem undergrad to take their math department's Real Analysis or (my favorite) Abstract Algebra. The content is rarely relevant any jobs, but then you'll be able to teach yourself almost anything in the future.
drallison 11y ago
If you are serious about this question, you should begin by specifying what "data scientist" means in this context. Otherwise, whatever answers your query engenders will be lost in the noise.
hellofunk 11y ago
I have read that it is much more important to have a strong mathematical background than a strong programming background to really be good at data science. Many data science positions in the world are looking for individuals who specialized in statistics and related math fields in school.
fenier 11y ago
It really depends on if you are only responsible for analysis, or for gathering data and analysis. The former is more math focused, the later is a pretty solid blend of Math and Comp Sci / DB work.
Mz 11y ago
According to what I have read, "it depends": http://blog.udacity.com/2014/11/data-science-job-skills.html http://blog.udacity.com/2014/11/data-science-job-skills.html http://www.informationweek.com/big-data/big-data-analytics/3-key-skills-of-successful-data-scientists/d/d-id/1111123 http://www.informationweek.com/big-data/big-data-analytics/3...
tmaly 11y ago
you could probably get by with R, but the real meat is with the Math as others have said.

18 points by HeyShayBY 11y ago

Makes more sense to have a statistic background than computer science background, right?

shoo 11y ago

i've heard it characterised something like this: you need to program better than the average statistician, and apply statistics better than the average programmer.

JimmyAustin 11y ago
Fortunately in my experience neither of these is particularly hard.
HeyShayBY 11y ago
Hahaha, I LOVE It! You have experience in data analysis yourself?
liamconnell 11y ago
I think the bar is a LITTLE higher now. If I could add one skill, its being able to read math language. It's a great skill to be able to read about a new technique on arxiv or a blog and be able to understand it beyond the surface level. In fact being mathematically literate is really the bee's knees. Its why I suggest anyone in a stem undergrad to take their math department's Real Analysis or (my favorite) Abstract Algebra. The content is rarely relevant any jobs, but then you'll be able to teach yourself almost anything in the future.

drallison 11y ago

If you are serious about this question, you should begin by specifying what "data scientist" means in this context. Otherwise, whatever answers your query engenders will be lost in the noise.

hellofunk 11y ago

I have read that it is much more important to have a strong mathematical background than a strong programming background to really be good at data science. Many data science positions in the world are looking for individuals who specialized in statistics and related math fields in school.

fenier 11y ago

It really depends on if you are only responsible for analysis, or for gathering data and analysis. The former is more math focused, the later is a pretty solid blend of Math and Comp Sci / DB work.

Mz 11y ago

According to what I have read, "it depends": http://blog.udacity.com/2014/11/data-science-job-skills.html http://blog.udacity.com/2014/11/data-science-job-skills.html http://www.informationweek.com/big-data/big-data-analytics/3-key-skills-of-successful-data-scientists/d/d-id/1111123 http://www.informationweek.com/big-data/big-data-analytics/3...

tmaly 11y ago

you could probably get by with R, but the real meat is with the Math as others have said.