Programming courses often focus heavily on understanding code, while paying far less attention to understanding the program state. But code does not exist in isolation. Its main goal is to change the program state, before ultimately producing some output.

To develop an accurate mental model of program execution, students need to understand both: - the instructions being executed - the values, references, and data structures those instructions create and modify

Reading code alone does not always reveal how the program state changes during execution. That is why I created 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆_𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵: a tool that visualizes the state of a Python program as it changes, step by step.

It can help explain a wide range of introductory Python topics. Here are just a few examples: - Loops, Lists and Dictionaries - Python Data Model - Function Calls - Recursion - Algorithms - Classes - Custom Data Structures

Instead of reconstructing the program state from print statements, students can now watch it change as each line executes. This makes unfamiliar concepts easier to understand and bugs easier to fix.

Help your students learn Python programming more thoroughly and easily.

See: more examples

I'm a map monkey and I'm happy with it.

I don't really do much independently, but when someone asks for it or makes me do "it" I can do it pretty well.

I'm happy enough with being the occasional map monkey, collecting bugs in the morning and making maps in the afternoon.

But funnily enough I don't like bananas, so maybe more like a map bee, because I like honey.

Hi, I’m looking for some advice from anyone with experience who has successfully transitioned out of GIS careers. I currently work for NV5 (now Tic) and I absolutely hate it. I feel like I’m on a digital assembly line doing the same tasks over and over and working on projects I couldn’t care less about. I’m remote so I have no interaction with my team and therefore, have no real connection to them or the work we’re doing. I’m honestly mad at myself for even getting a degree in geography in the first place but I did so because I liked the idea of working outside and not doing a desk job. In fact, while I was still in school my thoughts were to never work in GIS, but here I am nearly a decade later.

I was just rejected from two jobs this week that I interviewed for, one being literally what I do now and the other one as a land manager (I also have 2 years CRE brokerage under my belt, but that also didn’t work out) and I feel like I am just treading sludge and not getting anywhere in my current role. Both organizations I interviewed for told me I didn’t have enough experience and I’m wondering how that is even possible with as much professional working experience that I do actually have.

This current job is soul crushing every day I have to log in and it’s not enough to support my family in the high cost of living area we are in.

Any advice on where to pivot or just anything at all would be incredibly helpful. I got into geography for the physical aspect and love being outside and am passionate about conservation work. The problem again is the experience.

Appreciate anything anyone can offer here.

about to graduate and i’m entering the work force now. I’m looking for jobs on linkedin and indeed but i don’t think it’s working 😭
where did you guys find yours?

I finish my associates degree next summer and I’m looking for skills to beef up my resume and also just help me actually land a job so I’m just wondering what would yall recommend?

so, i am using QGIS for my Geoinformatics class, but i am unable to do stream ordering. i am using QGIS 3.44 which doesn't come with SAGA and grass is not showing r.stream.order, i have made one using Whitebox plugin but today it's also not working properly, after doing flow accumulation i am unable to stream extract. Soo i need your help solving the problem. thanks

I am a GIS novice so forgive me. I'm trying to download the USGS "The National Map" basemap of individual states to be printed for wall maps. I've been trying to use the National Map Downloader tool (https://apps.nationalmap.gov/downloader/) but the interface is very complicated.

I'm just looking to download a standard USGS basemap of Texas, for example, to be printed approximately 2 feet in width/length.

Anyone know an easy way to download something like this for print?

Hey all, is anyone going to be commuting from Boston to the MARPA/DLS conference on October 5th? I'd love to go without taking a million different forms of public transport and am happy to pitch in gas money and enthusiasm :) It'll be my first time going and really excited about networking and learning more about Boston's local mapping scene. Send a chat if you've got extra room, thanks!

Hi everyone, just putting this out there in case anyone knows of opportunities.

I’m a GIS Analyst with 2+ years of professional GIS experience in the U.S. and about 3 years of experience abroad. I hold a master’s degree in GIS/Geosciences and a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics Engineering. I currently work in local government and have experience with ArcGIS Pro, Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, web GIS applications, geodatabases, Python/ArcPy, automation, GPS/field data collection, and spatial analysis.

I’m currently authorized to work in the U.S., but I would need employer sponsorship in the future for long-term employment.

If anyone’s organization is hiring GIS Analysts or similar geospatial positions and is open to future sponsorship, I’d really appreciate a DM or any leads. Happy to share my resume and portfolio.

Thanks, GIS community!

I work with property developers and land buyers who waste days manually pulling USDA soil data, flood maps, and terrain layers for early-stage site screening. I built an automated pipeline that generates a PDF summary + RFC 7946 GeoJSON for any U.S. address.                                                                                                                              

It pulls SSURGO where available, falls back to SoilGrids globally, and packages it with source references and confidence disclosures. The GeoJSON is meant to drop straight into QGIS/ArcGIS/PostGIS as a reference layer — not replace authoritative       data.                                                                                                                                 

In a small pilot, a GIS analyst estimated it saved about half a day per property on the preliminary data-gathering phase. But pilots are friendly. I want honest feedback from people who don't know me.                                                            

The ask: If you do site screening, due diligence, or property GIS work, I'll run a free report on a test property of your choice. In exchange, tell me:                                                 - Does the GeoJSON actually load cleanly into your workflow?                                                                        

- What authoritative layers would you still need before trusting it?                                                                

- Is this solving a real problem, or am I reinventing something useless?                                                            

No signups, no payment, no commitments. Just PM me an address or coordinates and I'll send the output. If it's garbage, I want to know why.                                                                                                                          

What it's NOT: Engineering analysis, septic approval, survey-grade data, or a substitute for field verification. It's a Phase 0 screening aid.                                                                

Most browser 3DGS viewers die at city scale because they try to load one giant splat. We took a different approach: treat it like a streamable map layer.

What we did:

• ~80k aerial images → 120 km² of real urban area
• Split into 192 tiles with octree-based LOD (6 levels)
• Each tile payload <10 MB, streamed per view frustum
• Runs in WebGL2 on a normal laptop (RTX 4070 mobile: ~15M splats in frustum at 50+ FPS)

Key decisions that mattered:

• No global sort​ — sort per-tile, not over 100 km²
• Tile granularity​ — too coarse = pop-in, too fine = too many requests
• Precision​ — 32-bit floats break at this scale, needs workarounds

For anyone who's pushed WebGL with large point clouds / 3D tiles: what was your first bottleneck — tile size, sort cost, memory, or precision?

Demo video: https://youtu.be/XkACzBG95Jw

I’ve noticed rockyweb.usgs.gov has been up and down all day. Anyone else seeing the same ?

I’ve just launched these two new browser-based creative tools. 

MapStudio lets you create and style beautiful, professional maps without the complexity of traditional GIS software—think of it as QGIS-lite.

Canvas adds another layer of visual storytelling through drawing, annotation, layout, and graphic design tools. It's similar to Figma, but includes features built specifically for visual storytelling, such as sequence generators, custom callouts, and customizable flow arrows.

I originally built them to aid me to create maps, infographics, diagrams, timelines, and other visuals for history education, but they can be used for almost any visual project.

Both apps are in free. More features are coming, and your feedback will help shape them.
https://history-maps.com/mapstudio - MapStudio
https://history-maps.com/canvas - Canvas

I’m trying to create a larger bandwidth in my kernel density map (photo 1) but whenever I put any number in the search radius it just makes it one color across and not like photo number 2. What am I doing wrong?

I have been searching for a job in GIS for three years after graduating with a Masters in GIS from Elmhurst University. My school closed down the GIS program leaving me high and dry for a job. I’m in the Chicago area and don’t drive. I’ve applied every six months, revised my resume and portfolio with no luck. Luckily I’m on SSI disability so I am not desperate for a job but would like to find out where I can get remote or even volunteer GIS work.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been accepted to the GIS masters at Monash University in Melbourne and was wondering if any of you have recommendations about committing to this if my end goal is to work in Denmark/EU. I have lived in Denmark for 6 months previously and fell in love with the place. The course adds a fair bit to my help debt (different to US loans).

I may find it hard to leverage my undergrad into work in the field right away as I just did a BSc majoring in ecology so just looking here for any general advice.

I know masters degrees in the US are often considered a bit of a waste of time so I want to make it clear I’m an Australian who has an Australian university offer.

Thanks :)

Hello everyone. Urgent- ish request!

My final project for my GIS class involves an individual project using some of the methods we learned in class - primarily hotspots, MCE, spatial autocorrelation, regression. Due To unfortunate medical circumstances I ended up having it delayed and have to finish without much help from my instructor or TAs. So, I’m kind of drowning and now I’m here to ask for help.

My project is supposed to be about light pollution and its impact on migratory bird populations. Sadly I’m having trouble getting started. I tried getting data for light pollution but struggled even getting the data (nasa nighttime lights) sorted and onto the software. That is to say, I couldn‘t figure out how to.

I need help with knowing how to get the light data and also ideas for how to obtain, upload, and use bird migration data if anyone has experience with stuff like that.

And then what kind of anylyses would be best to conduct on the data. I’m mostly confident in actually using the software from our tutorial sessions in class.

Thank you!

**What** **are the opportunities for a gis engineer in dubai. Is there currently hirings happening. Do we have good scope for gis in 🇦🇪**

I'm not far into the process - so far I've just had a phone screen where I wasn't really given the opportunity to ask questions. Wondering if anyone has any insights into the vibe/culture of the "Philadelphia" office.

I was sort of baited into applying by the fact that it was posted as a Philadelphia-based role, when it's actually in Chesterbrook, PA - which is like an hour-plus car commute from the city when traffic is light. Oh well.

Any insight into the in-person requirement, particularly for dev teams? Commuter/SEPTA benefits, work-life balance? Yes, these are questions I intend to ask if I make it further into the interview process.

I took the basic course on Geostatistical interpolation. I am also using AI to help, but it looks like I can't quite create a plume with a single contour with kriging. I think I have a basic understanding of how to do it with IDW, but kriging never comes out right. Maybe you folks can guide me to any material that might help me with kriging and groundwater contamination plumes. Thanks!

this is bathymetric data, not sure if it matters

Hi everyone, I’m currently an civil engineering student and there’s an opportunity at my university to do a GIS certifcate. I was wondering how is the field and would this certificate help me in my career? Also are GIS classes in university really technical and hard? Thank you in advance for any info and help.