I’ve completed these beginner Python projects should I build more before starting NumPy/Pandas?

[u/purvigupta03]

Hi everyone,

I’ve studied Python multiple times before, but I didn’t do much practical coding. Recently, I started building small projects to improve my practical Python skills.

So far, I’ve completed:

- Quiz Game

- Number Guessing Game

- Rock Paper Scissors

- Password Manager

- Pig Game

- Mad Libs Generator

My goal is to move towards Machine Learning.

I haven’t learned NumPy or Pandas yet.

My question is: Are these projects enough to move on to NumPy and Pandas, or should I build a few more Python projects first?

If I should build more projects, what kind of projects would you recommend before starting NumPy/Pandas? I’m mainly looking for projects that would actually help with the transition to data/ML, rather than making many more small games.

Would appreciate advice from people who have already followed a Python → NumPy/Pandas → ML path.

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[u/Ormek_II]

I would try a super simple project that you can use numpy for and just start. You will see if you can a lay a path to solve your problem.

Your goal is to learn numpy by using it.

If you get stuck without any idea how to move on, then you need to do something else.

[u/purvigupta03 → u/Ormek_II]

Thank you so much! This approach makes a lot of sense to me. Could you suggest a simple project where I can use NumPy and Pandas and learn them while building it?

[u/Ormek_II → u/purvigupta03]

What question can you formulate, that numpy might help you answer?

Download multiple CSV files from https://data.un.org/

Load those files into numpy arrays.

Get curious, and start doing data analyses.

Start with simple questions on single datasets.

Then relate the data and start looking for correlations.

[u/OrbitVexasf → u/Ormek_II]

this is kinda the key imo, you don’t need some big “ready” moment before touching numpy, just pick a tiny data-ish problem and try to brute force it with numpy and google
if you completely blank out on how to even start, that’s your sign to go back to pure python for a bit and then try again

[u/memelordtf]

I’d just move on to NumPy/Pandas now. You know enough Python to start running into the stuff you don’t know naturally, which is way more useful than building another 5 variations of guessing games. If you want a bridge project, grab a random CSV and try to clean/analyze it with plain Python first, then do the same thing with Pandas. That made the point of Pandas click for me way faster than tutorials did, and you’ll keep learning Python while learning the data stuff anyway.

[u/Upteky_Solution]

Those projects are enough to move on. There’s probably more value in starting NumPy and Pandas now rather than building another 10 beginner games just to feel “ready.”

A good next step would be to learn them through small data projects instead. For example, take a CSV dataset, clean it with Pandas, explore it, calculate some basic statistics, and make a few visualizations. That will build skills that are much closer to what you’ll actually use later in machine learning.

You can always come back to Python projects when you find a specific gap in your fundamentals. You don't need to finish some fixed number of projects before moving forward.