Append to dataframe with for loop. Python3 - python-3.x

Question

I'm trying to loop through a list(y) and output by appending a row for each item to a dataframe.
y=[datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 29), datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 30), datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 31)]
Desired Output:
Index Mean Last
2017-03-29 1.5 .76
2017-03-30 2.3 .4
2017-03-31 1.2 1
Here is the first and last part of the code I currently have:
import pandas as pd
import datetime
df5=pd.DataFrame(columns=['Mean','Last'],index=index)
for item0 in y:
.........
.........
df=df.rename(columns = {0:'Mean'})
df4=pd.concat([df, df3], axis=1)
print (df4)
df5.append(df4)
print (df5)
My code only puts one row into the dataframe like as opposed to a row for each item in y:
Index Mean Last
2017-03-29 1.5 .76

Answer 1

Try:
y = [datetime(2017, 3, 29), datetime(2017, 3, 30),datetime(2017, 3, 31)]
m = [1.5,2.3,1.2]
l = [0.76, .4, 1]
df = pd.DataFrame([],columns=['time','mean','last'])
for y0, m0, l0 in zip(y,m,l):
data = {'time':y0,'mean':m0,'last':l0}
df = df.append(data, ignore_index=True)
and if you want y to be the index:
df.index = df.time

Answer 2

There are a few ways to skin this, and it's hard to know which approach makes the most sense with the limited info given. But one way is to start with a dataframe that has only the index, iterate through the dataframe by row and populate the values from some other process. Here's an example of that approach:
import datetime
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
y=[datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 29), datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 30), datetime.datetime(2017, 3, 31)]
main_df = pd.DataFrame(y, columns=['Index'])
#pop in the additional columns you want, but leave them blank
main_df['Mean'] = None
main_df['Last'] = None
#set the index
main_df.set_index(['Index'], inplace=True)
that gives us the following:
Mean Last
Index
2017-03-29 None None
2017-03-30 None None
2017-03-31 None None
Now let's loop and plug in some made up random values:
## loop through main_df and add values
for (index, row) in main_df.iterrows():
main_df.ix[index].Mean = np.random.rand()
main_df.ix[index].Last = np.random.rand()
this results in the following dataframe which has the None values filled:
Mean Last
Index
2017-03-29 0.174714 0.718738
2017-03-30 0.983188 0.648549
2017-03-31 0.07809 0.47031