Day 16 - Pandas get_dummies() Update: Why It Matters
Context:
While working with Pandas, I discovered a subtle but important change in the get_dummies() method that impacts how categorical encoding is handled.
What I Learned:
- In older versions of Pandas,
get_dummies()returned 1s and 0s for categorical data. - In newer versions, the default return values are now True and False.
- This change reflects a shift toward boolean representation for better clarity and consistency.
- Interestingly, most LLMs (Large Language Models) still generate code using 1s and 0s because they were trained on older Pandas versions and haven’t adapted yet.
Why It Matters for QA / AI Testing:
- Outdated code examples can lead to unexpected behavior in automation scripts.
- Testers need to validate encoding logic when working with categorical data in ML pipelines.
- Always check the latest documentation to avoid compatibility issues.
My Takeaway:
Tools evolve. Code examples may lag behind. Always verify with official documentation before implementing.