What tools are more easy to use for interactive data analysis?
Many tools can do interactive data analysis. I can list some: R,
Matlab, esProc, SAS, SPSS, Excel, and SQL,etc. But for easy to use,
esProc is the best. I can list you some reasons.
SQL is the most widely used structured data query and analysis
language. Tts syntax is close to that natural language and easy for
programmers to learn. But not easy for analysts without high
technical background. Besides, it can't make three-like step by
step computing. Excel is liked by many people due to its
convenience. But for complex data computing and analysis, Excel is
not great enough. R is good for its agile syntax but requires
strong technical background. Similar to R, Matlab also has good
scalability but needs high strong technical background. SAS has
powerful capabilities in chart plotting for in-depth applications
but is still less friendly than other analysis software. SPSS has a
powerful graphic user interface. But its syntax is fairly poor and
is incapable for the free analysis other than the fixed algorithms.
The menu-style interface is inconvenient for stepwise
computation.
esProc is a script with an expert in interactive analysis on
structured data. It supports free data analysis, requiring
relatively low degree of technical background. Its syntax is agile
and easy-to-use. Excel-style interface makes it good for complex
data processing and step by step computing. Also, it doesn't need
pre-modeling. Only disadvantage is lacking of the fixed algorithm
and functions specific to some industries, such as correlation
analysis or regression analysis.