Introduction

In this article, I’ll introduce you to PyCaret, showing you how to use it for a basic machine learning task. PyCaret makes machine learning in Python more accessible and efficient.

Steps to use PyCaret

Step 1. Install PyCaret

pip install pycaret

Step 2. Classification example

from pycaret.datasets import get_data
from pycaret.classification import *

# Load sample dataset
dataset = get_data('diabetes')

# Initialize setup
clf1 = setup(data = dataset, target="Class variable")

# Compare models
best_model = compare_models()

Explanation

• Load a sample diabetes dataset from PyCaret’s dataset module.
• setup function from PyCaret’s classification module, specifying our dataset and the target column (‘Class variable’).
• compare_models() to compare different machine learning models and select the best one based on default metrics.

Step 3. Evaluating the model with PyCaret

from pycaret.datasets import get_data
from pycaret.classification import *

# Load sample dataset
dataset = get_data('diabetes')

# Initialize setup
clf1 = setup(data = dataset, target="Class variable")

# Create a Random Forest model
rf_model = create_model('rf')

# Evaluate the model
evaluate_model(rf_model)

# Predict on the same dataset
predictions = predict_model(rf_model, data=dataset)
print(predictions.head())

Explanation

The process begins by loading the diabetes dataset and initializing PyCaret using the `setup` function. This step prepares the dataset for modeling and analysis. Next, a Random Forest model is created using the `create_model(‘rf’)` function, where ‘rf’ signifies the use of the Random Forest algorithm.

To understand the performance of the Random Forest model, the `evaluate_model` function is utilized. This function provides a visual evaluation of various aspects of the model, including its ROC curve, confusion matrix, and more, offering insights into its accuracy and reliability.

The final step involves making predictions on the dataset with the trained Random Forest model. This is done using the `predict_model` function. The results of these predictions are then displayed, showing the first few instances with the `print(predictions.head())` command, which provides a glimpse into how the model is performing with actual data.

Conclusion

With just a few lines of code, we can perform complex tasks like comparing and selecting machine learning models. This library is a great asset for anyone looking to streamline their machine learning workflows, from beginners to experienced practitioners.