The Unbearable Likeness of Being: How Polars is like/unlike Pandas

Dr. Blake Anderton will discuss the Polars data manipulation library (primarily, its Python interface) compared to the similar Pandas framework. He will briefly review the development of related software (SQL, Spark, etc.) and related Python packages (Pandas, Dask, etc.). Next, he will focus on the performance needs that precipitated the development of Polars. Dr. Anderton will cover data manipulation use-cases (e.g., grouping, filtering, creation/deletion) to emphasize the similarities/difference between Polars and Pandas in regard to syntax and performance (especially regarding eager/lazy evaluation, sequential/parallel processing, and query optimization). Finally, he will conclude with other display/usability aspects to consider when choosing between Polars and Pandas.

This talk aims to provide a generally-accessible and non-exhaustive introduction that presumes no background or familiarity with any of the listed packages or topics, appropriate for attendees ranging from experts to the average bear.

Dr. Blake Anderton is a researcher in Machine Intelligence and Data Science for applications in defense, healthcare, and finance. He has 24 years of experience with Python for a variety of applications spanning scientific computing, graphic visualization, hardware controllers, and artificial intelligence. He holds Bachelors degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering, a Masters in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctorate in Optical Science. He enjoys reading (and occasionally participating) in legal fiction.

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