Project overview
In this project, you’ll take on the role of a big data engineer tasked with setting up the popular Spark cluster-computing framework on your local machine. You’ll install Spark and its Python API, PySpark, learning how to integrate them with Jupyter Notebook for an interactive analysis environment.
This hands-on project immerses you in the setup process for a core big data technology. You’ll gain practical experience with Spark installation, environment configuration, and working with PySpark in Jupyter Notebook. These foundational skills are critical for any aspiring big data professional.
Objective: Install and configure Spark and PySpark on your local machine, integrating PySpark with Jupyter Notebook to create an interactive environment for big data analysis tasks.
Key skill required
To complete this project, it's recommended to build these foundational skills in Python
- Understanding the map-reduce framework for distributed computing
- Working with RDD objects in Spark to process and transform data
- Applying Spark transformations and actions on RDD objects to analyze data
- Understanding the basics of Spark DataFrames and Spark SQL for structured data
Projects steps
Step 1: Introduction
Step 2: Java
Step 3: Spark
Step 4: PySpark Shell
Step 5: Jupyter Notebook
Step 6: Testing your Installation
Master skills faster with Dataquest
Go from zero to job-ready
Learn exactly what you need to achieve your goal. Don’t waste time on unrelated lessons.
Build your project portfolio
Build confidence with our in-depth projects, and show off your data skills.
Challenge yourself with exercises
Work with real data from day one with interactive lessons and hands-on exercises.
Showcase your path certification
Share the evidence of your hard work with your network and potential employers.
The Dataquest guarantee
Dataquest has helped thousands of people start new careers in data. If you put in the work and follow our path, you’ll master data skills and grow your career.
We believe so strongly in our paths that we offer a full satisfaction guarantee. If you complete a career path on Dataquest and aren’t satisfied with your outcome, we’ll give you a refund.
Recommended projects
Free
Investigating Fandango Movie Ratings
Practice using R to analyze movie ratings data, compare 2015 vs 2016 ratings, and apply sampling and distributions to investigate bias.
R
Intermediate
8 steps
Free
NYC Schools Perceptions
Practice data cleaning, analysis, and visualization in R to explore survey data and showcase your skills with R Notebooks.
R
Beginner
3 steps
Free
Investigative Statistical Analysis – Analyzing Accuracy in Data Presentation
Practice statistical analysis in Python to investigate movie rating bias and determine if Fandango inflated ratings.
Python
Intermediate
8 steps
Free
Building Fast Queries on a CSV
Practice implementing an inventory system for a laptop store using Python classes, dictionaries, and binary search.
Python
Intermediate
10 steps
Free
Garden Simulator Text Based Game
Practice using OOP, error handling, and randomness in Python to create an interactive gardening game simulator.
Python
Beginner
11 steps
Free
Predicting Heart Disease
Practice building a K Nearest Neighbors classifier in Python to predict heart disease risk from patient data.
Python
Intermediate
10 steps
Free
Word Raider
Practice using Python variables, lists, loops, conditionals, and file handling to build an interactive word-guessing game.
Python
Beginner
11 steps
Free
Predicting Condominium Sale Prices
Practice using linear regression in R to predict condominium sale prices based on size and location in New York City.
R
Intermediate
8 steps
Free
Kaggle Data Science Survey
Practice analyzing survey data in Python to uncover insights about data science careers and skills.
Python
Beginner
8 steps
Grow your career with
Dataquest.
98%
of learners recommend
Dataquest for career advancement
4.85
Dataquest rating
SwitchUp Best Bootcamps
$30k
Average salary boost
for learners who complete a path
Join 1M+ data learners on
Dataquest.
1
Create a free account
2
Choose a learning path
3
Complete exercises and projects
4