March 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 5)
Rating:
Strong Points: Interactive, engaging courses
Weak Points: Only introductory content at present
Platform:
iPad/iPhone/Android
Cost:
Free
Summary:
The DataCamp app provides a nice introduction to two programming languages—Python and R—through a series of short lessons that can be completed on one’s mobile device. Users need only register for a free DataCamp account to gain access to the two free mobile courses: Introduction to Python and Introduction to R. (The app indicates that intermediate courses for each programming language are currently in development, though it is unclear when they will be released.) Each of the introductory courses consists of a small number of modules (four for Python, six for the R course) that are in turn each comprised of a few short lessons. The lessons introduce basic programming concepts and can be completed within the app itself without the use of external programming environments. Though only really useful for true novices at this point, the existing courses thus far are engaging and informative.
