Analysis and machine learning.
WHAT PYTHON PROVIDES
The largest machine learning ecosystem General-purpose capability, so analysis and production share a language Strong data manipulation libraries
WHAT R PROVIDES
The deepest statistical package collection Superior visualisation, arguably Better reproducible reporting
WHAT SQL PROVIDES
The ability to work with data where it lives, rather than extracting it.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Filtering and aggregating in the database is far faster than extracting everything.
WHAT MOST PRACTITIONERS USE
SQL for extraction, and Python or R for analysis.
WHAT TO CHOOSE ON
What your team knows What your organisation already uses Whether the work is statistical research or production machine learning
WHAT TO PREFER FOR PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Python, usually, since the model and the application can share a language.
WHAT TO PREFER FOR STATISTICAL RESEARCH
R, where the methods are.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Argue about the choice rather than doing the analysis.
WHAT MATTERS MORE THAN THE LANGUAGE
Understanding the data, and asking the right question.
