About

Treading On Python

Matt Harrison is a corporate trainer, consultant, and author who has worked with various startups architecting data science, business intelligence, storage, open source stack support, search and high availability. My posts tend to be on subjects related to these. I also might post on my hobbies, which include frisbee (mostly ultimate and goaltimate), gardening, and outdoor activities (skiing, trail running, hiking, climbing, biking, etc). I have a computer science degree from Stanford.

I am not a preacher, doctor, high school student, MBA student, expat living in Hong Kong, nor a professional baseball player, though I play all of those with my email account.

Connect with Me

If you are interested in my chatter you can follow me on Twitter, my handle is @__mharrison__ or sign up for my mailing list.

If you are interested in consulting services or corporate Python training please contact me. I have experience:

  • Deriving meaning from data
  • Prototyping full stack systems
  • Delivering customer focused solutions
  • Auditing/reviewing code
  • Teaching people to be effective in Python
  • Instructing on Data Science best practices

Books

  • Illustrated Guide to Learning Python 3
  • Machine Learning Pocket Reference
  • Effective PyCharm
  • Pandas 1.x Cookbook
  • Intermediate Python Programming, 1/2ed
  • Tiny Python 3.8 Notebook (also 2.7, 3.6)

Courses

Presentations

I have presented and taught quite a bit at conferences and user groups such as OSCON, PyCON, PyCon India, PyCon Colombia, PyCon Africa, SCALE, UTOSC, Open-West, Lisa USENIX, and various user groups. I co-chaired the Utah Python User Group for five years. If you are interested in having me speak at your conference or meetup, reach out.

Here is a lightning talk I gave at PyCON 2011.

  • Jun 2022 - PyCharm Webinar - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Jun 2022 - DevTalks Romania Keynote - Why Python?
  • Apr 2022 - PyCon - Ran sessions on Pandas, ML, and booth demo for PyCharm
  • Mar 2022 - Real Python Podcast 103 - Becoming More Effective at Manipulating Data With Pandas
  • Mar 2022 - Pinnacle Health Informatics Webinar - Why Python?
  • Mar 2022 - Python Webconference - Keynote: Stirring the Pot
  • Mar 2022 - Python Webconference - Idiomatic Pandas Tutorial
  • Mar 2022 - Global AI Conference - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Mar 2022 - Super Data Science Podcast 557 - Effective Pandas
  • Mar 2022 - The Data Canteen Podcast - Effective Pandas
  • Jan 2022 - Data Engineering Podcast - Pandas for Data Engineering
  • Jan 2022 - Podcast Init - Effective Pandas Practices
  • Sep 2021 - Data Works Maryland - Idiomatic Pandas* - 5 Tips for Writing Better Pandas Code
  • Sep 2021 - Pycon India - Idiomatic Pandas* - 5 Tips for Writing Better Pandas Code
  • Jun 2021 - WiMLDS Lagos Conference - Getting Started with Machine Learning
  • Jun 2021 - PyData SLC - Idiomatic Pandas
  • May 2021 - Conf42: Python 2021 - Idiomatic Pandas
  • May 2021 - SF Python - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Apr 2021 - MetaSnake Webinar - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Apr 2021 - MetaSnake Webinar - Getting Started with Python Testing
  • Apr 2021 - Cleveland Python User Group - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Apr 2021 - Idiomatic Pandas - Fizz the buzz - Getting a tech job
  • Apr 2021 - Python ML & AI Conference - Fizz the buzz - Getting a tech job
  • Apr 2021 - Python ML & AI Conference - Idiomatic Pandas
  • Mar 2021 - Newline Podcast - Effective Book Authoring with Nate Murray
  • Feb 2021 - Machine Learning Utah - Fizz the buzz - Getting a tech job
  • Feb 2021 - Montreal Python User Group - Consulting for Introverts
  • Dec 2020 - Talk Python Episode - 2020 Year in Review
  • Nov 2020 - PyRVA Python User Group - Consulting for Introverts
  • Nov 2020 - Talk Python Episode 293 - Learning how to learn
  • Nov 2020 - Northeastern Entrepreneur Club - Coding with Python
  • Nov 2020 - Test and Code Podcast - Effective Book Authoring Interview
  • Nov 2020 - IEEE VisInPractice Conference - Seaborn - One tool to rule them all
  • Oct 2020 - JupyterCon - A Beginners Tour Through Virtual Environments and Conda Environments - Tutorial
  • Aug 2020 - PyCon Africa - Python & Entrepreneurship
  • Apr 2020 - PyCON US - Hands-on Python for Programmers - Tutorial
  • Aug 2019 - Python Bytes Podcast Guest Host
  • Aug 2019 - Salt Lake Java Users Group - Python and Consulting for Introverts
  • May 2019 - Salt Lake R Users Group - Consulting for Introverts
  • May 2019 - PyCon - Gave two mini talks on PyCharm and profiling in the PyCharm tutorial and the PyCharm booth
  • Apr 2019 - OpenWest - Advanced Python. This 3 hour tutorial was a little different. I presented a list of topics and polled the audience. They decided to learn about Functional Programming, Pandas, and Decorators. As a heavily improvised, JIT presentation, the audience seemed to really enjoy it.
  • Apr 2019 - IT Career Energizer Podcast - Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
  • Feb 2019 - PyCon Colombia - Consulting for Introverts
  • Jan 2019 - Test and Code Podcast - Teaching Python as a Corporate Trainer
  • Apr 2018 - SLC Data Science. Consulting for Introverted Numbers Geeks
  • Apr 2018 - Python Bytes Podcast Guest Host
  • Mar 2018 - PyCharm Webinar - Python Data Science with pandas
  • Feb 2018 - PyCon Colombia - Welcome to the Jungle, tutorial on Random Forests
  • Sep 2017-Present - Live trainer for OReilly Media. (Courses on Python, Pytest, Pandas, and Machine Learning)
  • Jul 2017 - OpenWest - Hands-on Beginning Python Bootcamp, Hands-on Intermediate Python Bootcamp
  • June 2017 - Utah Python impromptu talk on generators
  • May 2017 - 2 tutorials at PyCon, Beginning and Intermediate Bootcamp. Taught full day Young Coders class
  • May 2017 - Talk Python Episode 111 - Pythonic Career Advice
  • Dec 2016 - Usenix Lisa - Machine Learning for SREs
  • Oct-Nov 2016 - Programming for Elementary Kids 6 week course on fractals, drones, webservers, and more.
  • July 2016 - OpenWest - Comprehending Comprehensions in Python. Learn Testing in Python Commando Style. Become a Tree Hugger of Data Science
  • Jun 2016 - PyCON - Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial
  • Nov 2015 - Usenix Lisa - Introduction to Data Analytics with Pandas - 90 minute tutorial. Hands-on Introduction to Python Analytic Stack - Half-day tutorial. Hands-on Intermediate Python - Full-day tutorial.
  • Sep 2015 - StartFest - Machine Learning For Fun And Profit...Mostly Profit.
  • July 2015 - OSCON - Decorating Drones: Using Drones to Delve Deeper into Intermediate Python
  • July 2015 - SciPy - Decorating Drones: Using Drones to Delve Deeper into Intermediate Python
  • June 2015 - Oreilly Webcast - Functional Python
  • May 2015 - OpenWest - Intro to Data Analysis Workshop, Intro to Machine Learning Workshop, Intro to Python, Intermediate Python
  • Apr 2015 - PyCON - Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial
  • Mar 2015 - Utah Code Camp - Drones and Python. Intro to Data Analysis.
  • Feb 2015 - StartSLC - Beginning Python Workshop
  • Sep-Oct 2014 - Programming Drones with Python - 8 Week course on Python and Drone programming for 3rd-6th graders
  • May 2014 - OpenWest - Hands-on Beginning Python Tutorial. Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial. Introduction to Pandas.
  • Apr 2014 - PyCON - Hands-on Beginning Python Tutorial. Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial. Intermediate was full, so one attendee hacked website to attend.
  • Jan 2014 - Utah Python - Introduction to Pandas
  • Nov 2013 - Utah Jmp Group - _Why Python?__
  • Oct 2013 - Strata - Getting Started with Python, Matplotlib, and Pandas
  • Oct 2013 - Utah Python - 90% of Python in 90 Minutes
  • Sep-Oct 2013 - HTML for 3rd Graders - 8 week course on HTML for 3rd-6th graders
  • Mar 2013 - Utah Python - Functional Programming
  • Mar 2013 - PyCon - Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial. Scripting: from Hard-drive to Github to PyPI Tutorial
  • Oct 2012 - Publishing Electronic Books - 6 week crash course for 2rd-6th graders in ebooks and publishing. Result of class published on Amazon.
  • May 2012 - UTOS - Hands-on Beginning Python Tutorial. Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial.
  • Mar 2012 - PyCON - Hands-on Beginning Python Tutorial. Hands-on Intermediate Python Tutorial. Intermediate was one of the first to sell out.
  • Jan 2012 - SCALE10X - "It's all Good": Martha Stewart, Python and Decorators

Understanding decorators, args, *kwargs etc. made driving down to #SCALE10x worth it. Thankyou @__mharrison__
@ultrahax

  • Dec 2011 - _What is a Programmer?__ - Hannah Holbrook Elementary
  • Fall 2011 - Elementary Ebooks 8 week crash course in ebooks (epub, html, css) for 3rd-6th graders.
  • Aug 2011 - Utah Python presentation on Decorators.
  • Apr 2011 - Utah Python Recap of best talks at PyCon.
  • Mar 2011 - PyCON Taught 2 3 hour tutorials. Hands On Beginning and Intermediate Python. Gave a lightning talk on Qtile.
  • Oct 2010 - UTOSC Taught Python Full Meal Deal.
  • Sep 2010 - Utah Python Took part in discussion on teaching Python to elementary students.
  • Fall 2010 - Elementary Python. 8 Week crash course in programming for 3rd-6th graders.
  • Feb 2010 - PyCon I gave a standing room only tutorial on The Meaty Parts of Python. Also demoed code coverage support in emacs in a large BoF.
  • Oct 2009 - UTOSC I presented on What every programmer should know about code coverage, gave an Intermediate Python Workshop and lightning introduction the Utah Python Group.
  • Jul 2009 - OSCON I presented on Best Practices for 'Scripting' with Python 3 and assisted with Innovative Interaction using Wiimotes.
  • Jun 2009 - Utah Python Quick intro to PyGTK and Glade.
  • Mar 2009 - PyCon All I really need to know about [testable, maintainable, packagable] "scripts".
  • Mar 2009 - Fairfield Junior High A career in programming.
  • Feb 2009 - SCALE7x "Scripting" with python: Maintainable, Testable and & Distributable.
  • Feb 2009 - Utah Python All I ever wanted to know about scripting.
  • Jan 2009 - Hannah Holbrook Elementary What does a programmer do?
  • Aug 2008 - UTOSC Using Lasers Webcams and Wiimotes in Python. (Given twice due to crowd feedback) 90% of the Python you need to know.
  • Mar 2008 - PyCon Managing complexity (and testing). I now think that the name of this is a misnomer. It should be "Everything I need to know about coverage" (note that the examples are in python but the general idea is applicable to all languages).
  • Nov 2007 - Utah Python, Quick and Dirty Intro to Testing (and coverage) in Python.
  • Sep 2007 - Utah Python, Python 101.
  • Aug 2007 - UTOSC Python 101.
  • July 2007 - OSCON Programming with dynamic confidence.
  • May 2007 - Utah Python Programming with dynamic confidence.
  • Mar 2006 PyCon Sam: Transforming a commandline tool to web 3000.
  • Feb 2006 - Baypiggies Sam: Transforming a commandline tool to web 3000.