Getting started
A working install, your first GeoDataFrame, and what Python GIS is for.
Everything on Spatial Workflow about getting started, in the order that usually works: understand the idea, then run the task, then fix it when it goes wrong. 17 guides in total.
3 learning paths run through this topic — follow one if you would rather work through a route than pick a single guide.
🧭 Start with the concepts
The ideas the how-to guides below assume you already have.
- What Is a GeoDataFrame? Structure and Key Concepts geodataframe python
- Shapely Basics: Working with Geometry Objects in Python shapely python geometry
- Vector vs Raster Data in Python GIS: Key Differences vector raster data python gis
- Introduction to Rasterio: Reading Raster Data in Python rasterio python tutorial
- Python for GIS: What It Is and When to Use It python for gis
- GeoPandas Basics: Working with Spatial Data in Python geopandas basics
- PyQGIS vs GeoPandas: Which to Use for GIS Automation pyqgis vs geopandas
- What GDAL and OGR Actually Are (and Why Everything Depends on Them) what is gdal ogr
- Reproducible GIS Environments Explained: conda, pip, Lockfiles and Docker reproducible gis environment python
⚙️ Then do the task
Step-by-step walkthroughs with code you can copy and adapt.
- How to Set Up a Python GIS Environment That Actually Works python gis environment setup
- How to Explore a Spatial Dataset You Have Never Seen Before explore spatial dataset python
- How to Open Any Spatial File in Python When You Do Not Know the Format open any spatial file python
- How to Set Up Jupyter for Python GIS Work jupyter python gis setup
- Your First Python GIS Analysis: From Download to Map in One Script first python gis analysis
🔧 When it breaks
The errors this topic produces, with the cause explained rather than just the command.
Learning paths through this topic
A curated route rather than a list — the guides in the order that builds on itself.
Related topics
Subjects that keep coming up alongside this one, most overlap first.