There are a lot of good books on machine learning, but most people buy the wrong ones. A question I get asked the most is what books should people buy to get stared in machine learning. My answer to beginners is: “don’t buy textbooks“. In this post I want to point out a few key […]
Implementing a machine learning algorithm in code can teach you a lot about the algorithm and how it works. In this post you will learn how to be effective at implementing machine learning algorithms and how to maximize your learning from these projects. Let’s get started. Benefits of Implementing Machine Learning Algorithms You can use […]
When making a start in a new field it is common to feel overwhelmed. You may lack confidence or feel as though you are not good enough or that you are lacking some prerequisite. You will explore these issues in this post and learn that such feelings can lead to actions that can consume a […]
Programming is a part of machine learning, but machine learning is much larger than just programming. In this post you will learn that you do not have to be a programmer to get started in machine learning or find solutions to complex problems. Programming Machine Learning Machine learning algorithms are implemented in code. Programmers like […]
I have seen people that think that they need to get a degree in machine learning. I am all for degrees, I just don’t think they are for everyone. I also know that you can get started in machine learning and go far without a degree. In this post I will convince you that you […]
Practitioners of practical subjects can suffer from math envy. This is where they think that mathematicians are smarter than they are and that they cannot excel in a subject until they “know the math”. I have seen this first hand, and I have seen it stop people from getting started. In this post, I want […]
The question of how to learn a machine learning algorithm has come up a few times on the email list. In this post I’ll share with you the strategy I have been using for years to learn and build up a structured description of an algorithm in a step-by-step manner that I can add to, […]
When I’m asked about resources for big data, I typically recommend people watch Peter Norvig’s Big Data tech talk to Facebook Engineering from 2009. It’s fantastic because he’s a great communicator and clearly and presents the deceptively simple thesis of big data in this video. In this blog post I summarize this video for you […]
It is good practice to have reproducible outcomes in software projects. It might even be standard practice by now, I hope it is. You can take any developer off the street and they should be able to follow your process to check out the code base from revision control and make a build of the […]
I am very interested in processes. I want to know good ways to do things, even the best way to do things if possible. Even if you don’t have skill or deep understanding, process can get you a long way. It can lead the way and skill and deep understanding can follow. At least, I […]
