As you participate in the Curiosity Cup, a global SAS student competition, selecting the right tool for your project is essential. SAS provides three powerful, cloud-based platforms: SAS OnDemand for Academics, SAS Viya for Learners, and SAS Viya Workbench for Learners, all available to college and university students at no cost. Each platform is designed for simplicity and accessibility, allowing you to work directly in your web browser without the need for software installations.
If your institution offers campus-licensed SAS software, you can leverage that as well. This guide will walk you through the strengths of each platform, helping you make an informed decision based on your project goals and technical expertise.
Let’s start with SAS OnDemand for Academics!
SAS OnDemand for Academics is a free, cloud-based environment that provides access to SAS Studio, a tool for data analysis and SAS coding. As a cloud-based version of SAS 9.4, OnDemand for Academics offers a straightforward and efficient experience for students.
Key Features:
- Access SAS Studio for performing data analysis and writing SAS code.
- Build SAS skills with tools available to students.
- Simplify the learning process with predefined tasks that automatically generate SAS code.
- Create new SAS program files or upload existing ones for analysis.
Best Use Case?
SAS OnDemand for Academics is perfect for students and educators focused on learning and applying SAS programming. It’s a straightforward platform ideal for projects that don’t require complex tools like machine learning or advanced visuals. If your project revolves around coding, data manipulation, or simple analytics, this platform has everything you need. OnDemand for Academics is also a great choice if you’re looking for a basic, easy-to-use environment to develop your SAS skills.
Now let’s look at SAS Viya for Learners.
SAS Viya for Learners is an advanced, comprehensive analytics platform designed for students and educators who want to work with a variety of data science tools. With SAS Viya for Learners, you can access powerful applications like SAS Visual Analytics, SAS Model Studio, and Jupyter Lab, giving you the flexibility to explore advanced topics such as machine learning, data visualization, and open-source coding.
Key Features:
- Integrate tools for visual analytics, data modeling, and support for open-source languages (e.g., Python, R).
- Create reports and visualizations without extensive coding, using low/no-code capabilities with SAS Visual Analytics.
- Access preloaded datasets and CAS tables for faster, real-time data analysis (CAS tables store data in memory for quick access and insights).
- Code seamlessly in Python, R, and other languages within the SAS environment through open-source integration.
Best Use Case?
SAS Viya for Learners is perfect for projects that require complex analytics, such as data visualization, machine learning, or coding in multiple languages. It provides the flexibility to switch between SAS and open-source languages like Python, making it an ideal choice for tackling advanced Curiosity Cup projects. If your project involves predictive modeling, interactive reports, or blending SAS with open-source tools, Viya for Learners offers built-in tools like SAS Visual Analytics and seamless coding integration.
And… finally, introducing SAS’s newest technology, SAS Viya Workbench for Learners!
SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is an intuitive development environment designed to enhance your coding experience with SAS and open-source languages. You can use tools like Visual Studio Code for SAS coding and Jupyter Lab or Jupyter Notebook for Python coding. This seamless integration allows you to work in your preferred environment and leverage powerful Python libraries for tasks such as machine learning and data analysis.
Key Features:
- Combine SAS and open-source coding environments.
- Integrate with popular IDEs for a customized coding experience.
- Support SAS coding via Visual Studio Code and Python coding using Jupyter Lab or Jupyter Notebook.
- Install any Python package required for your project, offering flexibility for customized coding needs.
- Streamline code execution in both Python and SAS.
- Tailored for technical users comfortable working across multiple coding languages.
Best Use Case?
SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is ideal if your Curiosity Cup project requires extensive coding in multiple languages. It offers flexibility for students who prefer a streamlined coding environment, supporting seamless transitions between SAS (via Visual Studio Code) and Python (via Jupyter Lab or Notebook). This platform is particularly suited for technical users who need efficient integration of SAS code with open-source languages to meet complex project needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right platform for your Curiosity Cup project depends on the complexity of your project and your technical needs. SAS OnDemand for Academics is excellent for those seeking a simple and accessible SAS programming environment. SAS Viya for Learners offers a more advanced analytics platform with data visualization and machine learning capabilities, while SAS Viya Workbench for Learners is perfect for students who require flexibility in coding languages like Python.
Explore each platform, leverage the resources provided by SAS, and choose the best fit to maximize your success in the Curiosity Cup!
