naive bayesian spam filter question

4
votes

I am planning to implement spam filter using Naive Bayesian classification model.

Online I see a lot of info on Naive Bayesian classification, but the problem is its a lot of mathematical stuff, than clearly stating how its done. And the problem is I am more of a programmer than a mathematician (yes I had learnt Probability and Bayesian theorem back in school, but out of touch for a long long time, and I don't have luxury of learning it now (Have nearly 3 weeks to come-up with a working prototype)).

So if someone can explain or point me to location where its explained for programmers than a mathematician, it would be a great help.

PS: By the way I have to implement it in C, if you want to know. :(

Regards, Microkernel

5
algorithmmathstatisticsnaivebayesspam-prevention
suck it up and learn the math. if you don't you never have a hope in improving yourself, you will always merely be a pawn in a larger game. – ldog
@gmatt: Yes I agree with you. But its not that I am not good @ math or I hate math. Incidentally my favourite subject @school used to be math. But now I don't have time to relearn and implement (consider, I have atmost 3 weeks to do this, to be implemented in C, and this is a project for some weekend class, and apart from this I have a full time job(which needless to say sucking away vitality from me)). But I still strongly agree with you and I really want to learn. Thanks :) – Microkernel

5 Answers

5
votes

The book Programming Collective Intelligence has chapter that covers this and other methods. The chapter (#6) can be understood without reference to previous chapters, is written clearly, and discusses only the minimal mathematics necessary to get the job done.

2
votes

You could try this website. It's got some source code.

2
votes

I would highly recommend Andrew Moore's tutorials and I think you should start with this one.

1
votes

You could also take a look at POPFile, an open source spam filter engine.