Deep Learning Prerequisites: The Numpy Stack in Python V2 (Udemy.com)
Numpy, Scipy, Pandas, and Matplotlib: prep for deep learning, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
Created by: Lazy Programmer Team
Last updated February 2026
Our take
Based on the ratings of 3,835 students and a sample of their written reviews, the syllabus, the course as of February 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.
A free, two-hour primer on Numpy, Matplotlib, Pandas and Scipy from the Lazy Programmer, built as a warm-up before machine learning courses. It is not a Python course and not a math course. The syllabus shows 27 lectures across six sections, with Numpy taking the biggest share at 55 minutes and Scipy getting just eight. It suits people who already know Python and some linear algebra and want the array and DataFrame basics before touching a neural network.
One reviewer praises how the instructor ties the math to working code; another says he always refers back to it as a reference. With 3,835 reviews and a 4.4 rating, most students are happy, and the price helps. The complaints are consistent, though. The pace is quick, and more than one reviewer says it takes rewinding to follow. The end of section exercises have no posted solutions, one reviewer was stuck on the Pandas exercise, and another wished there were a Q&A section to ask in. The sharpest criticism is tone: low-star reviews call out jokes about things you should have learned in kindergarten, which some found insulting.
The 'All Levels' label is the other sore point. Low-star reviewers say it assumes more linear algebra and statistics than the label suggests, and the requirements list agrees. Next to the long bootcamps it sits beside, this is a quick, free checkpoint rather than a course to build a career on. Updated in February 2026, it is a sensible two hours before starting Deep Learning A-Z or a TensorFlow course, provided the math is already in place.
Pros
- Free, and last refreshed in February 2026
- Connects linear algebra to actual Numpy code rather than teaching syntax in isolation
- Short enough to finish in an evening; 27 lectures, just under two hours
- One student says it has become a reference he keeps going back to for arrays and DataFrames
Cons
- Exercises come with no solutions and there is no Q&A section to ask in
- Fast pace and offhand 'kindergarten' remarks put off some students
- Pandas and Scipy get 20 and 8 minutes; a thin overview at best
His teaching is fast paced, but clear and understandable if I rewind enough times.
Labelled All Levels, but the requirements list linear algebra, probability and Python, and low-star reviewers say it assumes the math.
What you will learn
- Basic operations in Numpy, Scipy, Pandas, and Matplotlib
- Vector, Matrix, and Tensor manipulation
- Visualizing data
- Reading, writing, and manipulating DataFrames
Course content
6 sections · 27 lectures · 2 hours of video 3 quizzes
- 1Welcome and Logistics 1 free preview2 lectures · 3 quizzes · 11 min
- 2Numpy 1 free preview8 lectures · 55 min
- 3Matplotlib6 lectures · 19 min
- 4Pandas6 lectures · 20 min
- 5Scipy4 lectures · 8 min
- 6Appendix / FAQ1 lecture · 5 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- Anyone who wants to implement Machine Learning algorithms
What you need before you start
- Linear Algebra, Probability, and Python Programming
Quality Score
No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.
Overall Score : 88 / 100
Course Description
Welcome! This is Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and Data Science Prerequisites: The Numpy Stack in Python (V2).
The reason I made this course is because there is a huge gap for many students between machine learning "theory" and writing actual code.
As I've always said: "If you can't implement it, then you don't understand it".
Without basic knowledge of data manipulation, vectors, and matrices, students are not able to put their great ideas into working form, on a computer.
This course closes that gap by teaching you all the basic operations you need for implementing machine learning and deep learning algorithms.
The goal is that, after you take this course, you will learn about machine learning algorithms, and implement those algorithms in code using the tools and techniques you learned in this course.
Suggested Prerequisites:
linear algebra
probability
Python programming
Instructor Details
- 4.4 Rating
3,835 Reviews
Lazy Programmer Team
The Lazy Programmer is a seasoned online educator with an unwavering passion for sharing knowledge. With over 10 years of experience, he has revolutionized the field of data science and machine learning by captivating audiences worldwide through his comprehensive courses and tutorials.
Equipped with a multidisciplinary background, the Lazy Programmer holds a remarkable duo of master's degrees. His first foray into academia led him to pursue computer engineering, with a specialized focus on machine learning and pattern recognition. Undeterred by boundaries, he then ventured into the realm of statistics, exploring its applications in financial engineering.
Recognized as a trailblazer in his field, the Lazy Programmer quickly embraced the power of deep learning when it was still in its infancy. As one of the pioneers, he fearlessly embarked on instructing one of the first-ever online courses on deep learning, catapulting him to the forefront of the industry.
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Reviews
By J. Khan on 11/11/2025
I recently completed this course, and it was an excellent learning experience. The course provides a very solid introduction to the Numpy Stack, covering essential topics such as arrays, matrix multiplication, linear algebra, and solving linear systems. The explanations were clear and practical, with little of coding examples to reinforce the concepts. I especially appreciated how the instructor connected mathematical foundations to actual Python implementations, making it easier to understand how these tools fit into the broader field of machine learning and deep learning. Overall, this course is a great starting point for anyone new to data science or deep learning who wants to strengthen their understanding of the Numpy ecosystem before moving on to more advanced topics.
By 翊晞 吳 on 1/16/2024
I've watch some ml/dl course on youtube, this is exactly what student need before taking any ml/dl course edit (for people who going to taking the course) : After I rated for a month. I watch some review, some of people say that video is kinda hard to follow. to be hones I'm agree. but this isn't teacher's problem, is that those things are hard to study, However teacher turn that into only 2 hours course, and This course is even free, I'm impressed. please not only what one time if you don't understand. STILL 5 out of 5
By Victor Piñero on 12/29/2023
Taking into account that some base is needed to understand all the lectures, it is a good course to refresh some needed points on DL (not enough to become a DL expert, there are another courses for this). I recommend to search in Numpy, Matplotlib, Pandas and Scipy documentation meanwhile the teacher explains. The only problem I see on this course is the Pandas' excercise. I would add some information about the data generated (some tip to understand where to start and how understand the variables and the plot). Thanks for make this course free! VP.
By Ahmad Taha on 9/11/2023
This Course is amazing , and I recommend it for any one want to start with Numpy, Pandas , and SciPy. To have benefits from this course , you have to dirty your hands to stack and gain more experience in those libraries , especially if you want to go through machine and deep learning. For me it was hard because I need to learn math again, especially after leaving the school more than 20 years ago, because of this i found this link is good and I badly recommend reading this link https://lazyprogrammer.me/what-maths-are-critical-to-pursuing-ml-ai/ I have small note : that the exercise is more professional to the given content, which make it in the beginning hard or from where should I start solving :), especially if you are comming from deep learning Tensorflow course , and taking this course as prerequisite :D If there are many exercises for example 3 exercises for each section, with starting with easy then make it harder in the next exercise and so on. But it seems from the begining, making these exercises in the mentioned sections in this difficulty is to increase the experience and to work harder. deserves five stars , good job. Best Regards Ahmad
By Jakub Hrbek on 4/22/2023
Why would you feel, so bad about this Course, because it wants you to do something yourself, not spooning you with content. So yes, get ready, you will watch each section, you will know what you need to learn, you will learn it, and after week you will return, that there is still another half you need to learn. Instructor is more like professor, give you outline, but the will to really learn is up to you. So because of that for a moment I was thinking to give one star, not because it is bad course, but for people who look at score reviews for to see this there. But as you can see I didn't, course is perfect and it is course you have to show your attitude and will to learn. Thanks.
By Emin Berk Ünal on 10/10/2022
Overall the instructor is very knowledgeable yet I have to admit that some of the exercises were a little bit overwhelming, at least at the first glance but it's nothing can't be done if you go out of your comfort-zone a little bit and get your hands dirty. Instructor is very straight to the point and tasks he is giving are time consuming but very rewarding if you are up to the challange.
By J P Leonard on 9/21/2022
Overall a very good course. The content is great, and the practice problems are interesting. The delivery of the content is nice and concise but has room for improvement. Some constructive feedback: 1) This probably isn't deliberate but you come across as disdainful towards the people taking this course. Other reviewers have also mentioned 'put downs' in the delivery of the course. See Professor Dave Explains on youtube for someone who delivers reasonably complex material in a more welcoming manner. 2) There is nothing wrong with repeating key points later on in the course as a reminder. No human retains everything they have learnt the first time. Thank you for an enjoyable course, I look forward to completing more.
By Curtis Eaton on 3/26/2022
Good course, good exercises. The random rude put downs of someone's potential understanding of different topics coming into this course are super weird, but I can't knock the fact that the information is there and this is a good prerequisite course. Part of being a teacher is presentation. Telling people that they should have learned something in kindergarten can be a major bummer and turn off if someone literally just didn't get taught something in kindergarten. It makes them feel stupid. I've seen your follow-up rude comments to others in your reviews about this same issue. Try to understand that your (The educator's) opinion on this is in the minority. I am looking forward to the next course in the progression, regardless. EDIT: Me from the future. Don't waste your time with this progression of courses. Just started the next one and returned it within a couple of hours. Starts chucking formulas at you with terrible explanations, does not link them to real application and the delivery is SO TERRIBLY BORING. This course was decent, but if I knew how the rest of the paid series would begin, I would not have wasted my time here. I have a BS in Computer Science, I work in the industry and even I found his gobbled mess of delivery soup not worth it. Save yourself some time. Move on. EDIT EDIT: "Obviously there are no put downs in this course" Except for the fact that here I am, a paying customer that went through the course and found that there were. You respond by trying to deflect the points of reviews from students that are all saying the same thing. There's only one common denominator here: Your course. Once again. Do not buy. In fact, after this response back from the instructor, do not buy times 10. EDIT EDIT EDIT: Wanted to come here months later because this course popped up for me again to see my review. He deleted his response, but it seems he has not learned anything about being kind or respectful based on other comments he has left on other's reviews. Wanted to change my review to the absolute lowest value for that. Remember: You are not a Harvard professor, you are an instructor on an obscure site in the corner of the internet. Your pompous attitude makes you look weak.
By Diego Ignacio Salazar Lazo on 8/22/2020
Despite being a "brief" and "not in-depth" course, I'm immensely amazed of what I learned here. There are some parts that just mention there's theory behind and just moves on, but don't let that stop you from searching and investigating those topics all by yourself, I'm sure pretty sure you'd be as impressed as I was of what you find! To be a free course, it overseeded my expectations. Lazy Programmer is a great teacher here, he explains everything so clear and with a lot of detail. I got so enthusiastic by this course that I purchased another one from Lazy Programmer, so anxious to keep on learning in this field! Thanks a lot!!!
By Dusan Perovic on 7/12/2020
This course provides good foundations for envolving into Machine or Deep Learning projects because libraries that are taught represent basis of every project. It is also good for taking this course if you want to follow and learn other course made by instructor.












