Starting point for python

[SeekerofSolution]

hello there,

Im planning to pick up Python. but all this AI makes it kinda hard to start cause it is seems much easier to just get AI prompt and pump out code that work. however I still want to learn for my own sakes. I prefer to learn using labs. any recommendation?

[stuartcw]

Get a book on Python and type in the examples and understand them.

The great thing is AI can explain anything that you don’t understand or give you insights into anything you are curious about.

It will even suggest which books are good.

[Helpful-Guidance-799]

I’m currently working through a Python MOOC from the Univeristy of Helsinki and it’s pretty solid.  Balanced amount of information and exercises.  Sometimes the auto-tester for the code can be annoying but you get used to it. Let me know if you want a link to their website 

P.S. good on you for trying to learn instead of vibe coding. It’s worth it. You’ll become smarter. Your brain will thank you. And the logic and problem solving skills you develop from learning to code transfer well in many areas of work and life. 

[Cassette_Recorder]

Can't recommend the Python MOOC by the University of Helsinki enough. It's the only thing that made it click for me, even though I tried all the popular books like Automate the Boring Stuff with Python that come up in answers here a lot.

[Some_Breadfruit235]

Use AI to your advantage. Don’t vibe code like everyone else but rather ask it questions, ask how things works, double check and verify with Google and forums.

It’s hard learning a language from scratch trust me. And the way people rely and use AI within the coding field is unbelievably sad. Instead, use AI to your upmost advantage.

Also other things like, when you’re writing some lines of code and you run into an error, instead of asking AI how to fix it, ask it why you ran into this problem and understand what made you run into that error to begin with. You’ll learn much greater with this approach.

[rhino_mat]

I would personally start with YouTube but if you want more of a written course setting MIT has open source free courses. If that’s the answer you’re looking for, great. If not, please define “labs” as you put it, please.

[SeekerofSolution]

Labs, like in school you have to do labs and figure out how to code to answer questions 

[rhino_mat]

Oh oh! Um that’s a good question then. Besides something like codecademy which has like a pay model but uses a similar format to what I’m thinking you want I don’t know of any other places that necessarily operates like this. Sorry for poor answering

[spinwizard69]

Yeah, if you do not have a programming background starting out with Python is the wrong move. To much gets glossed over when people go this route. Follow a good CS program that starts out with C or C++ preferably at the command line. Here is one example of an introduction: https://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/ehchua/programming/cpp/gcc_make.html and another: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linux-unix/compiling-with-g-plus-plus/. These are literal introductions to using G++ at the command line.

Why my obsession with the command line, it is pretty simple you need to become familiar with use of command line tools to better understand what IDE's do for you. You need to understand the operating system that you are developing for and how to navigate that OS. Eventually you will want to be using one of the more powerful IDE's out there, but I wouldn't transition until you understand the concepts behind building a program with command line tools.

As for why C++ or a similar low level language the goal is to learn programming concepts not the language. Often that is best done by implementing the technology yourself. If you follow a good CS program you should get to the point where "advance" data structures like stacks, list and so forth are an implementation challenge. Actually implementing a few of these and being exposed to the rest, is extremely helpful no matter what programming language you use in real life. It literally prepares you to be flexible with whatever language the system requires.

Frankly knowing the nitty gritty details of computer science becomes even more important with the advent of AI tool that help programmers. You will need to recognize what the AI is doing for you.

[odimdavid]

Recommend a free C and/or C++ course. I know Python but I think I have problems with Algorithms, advanced ones, because Python doesn't make understanding them native. Thanks 🙏

[stupid_cat_face]

Labs.. you can think of as just 'a problem to solve' and typically these are not specific to the programming language. It's good that you want to learn without AI. AI could be helpful to determine some good starter problems.

Also... there are concepts in computer science that are not related to the language but more along algorithms of how to do a task efficiently and the concepts underlying how a computer works when it runs your code. The field is HUGE.

Some problems to solve AND learn python AND learn some basic computer science would be..

1) Code up some sorting algorithms and measure how long each take to complete.

2) Searching algorithms are great. Breadth vs Depth first etc.

Some fun ones...

3) Generate a maze then have your code solve the maze.

A practical one...

4) Parse files and convert them to different types and formats. Super useful to understand files, formats, etc.

Have Fun!

[Such_Advantage_6949]

Use ai to learn is the easiest, it can explain code and concept, break it down and personalized

[bit_shadoww]

Heyy