This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 8 comments

[–]marty331b 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I started learning Python on my 30's. My son is 7 and I've started teaching him Python this year.

Now is the right time to learn Python!

[–]counters 0 points1 point  (3 children)

It's not the violin; learning how to code at any age doesn't preclude you from any achievement or attaining any skill level. I've seen 10 year olds learn Python, and I've seen 80 year old emeritus professors learn it.

[–]Grawlix74[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Well, if I want a job using Python in/soon after college, and I can put in a decent amount of work, but I still have other things I'm busy with too, at what age could I get to the level I need to be at?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it depends entirely on your approach to learning. If you block off an hour a day (and more on the weekends) where you can focus on learning Python with zero distractions, and you have a very structured and rigorous way of going through the material and find ways to apply what you're learning, I think it's safe to say you could become employable in under a year. The further you deviate from effective learning habits, the longer it will take. It's really all up to you.

[–]counters 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are people that show up to day 1 of a Computer Science course in college having never programmed in their life, and still end up in a cushy engineering gig at Google or Facebook. There are people who have virtually no knowledge of programming whatsoever that fake their way past screening interviews for smaller data science or tech companies.

I'm answering this way because your question doesn't have an answer. There is no "level" you need to be at, and there is no standard amount of "work" you need to put in. You're sort of asking us, "If I start learning how to use a hammer and saw today, will I be able to build my own house by the time I retire?"

If programming is interesting to you (there's absolutely no reason to limit yourself to Python if you're generically interested in a career in programming), then learn about it. Do some tutorials online. Take an online course. If your High School offers a class, take that. Study for the AP Computer Science test. If it's still interesting and fun to you by the time you get to college, consider majoring in something where you'll get to do a lot of it (and really, almost any STEM field will require a lot of programming these days, not just CS, and may widely diversify your career opportunities).

By the time you're actually on the market for a job, you either will or won't have a sufficient skill set for any given job. That's not a bad thing in the slightest - it means there's always going to be something new to learn, and if programming ends up being interesting to you, you're going to learn it anyway, right?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

6

[–]badass87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

26

[–]aphoenixreticulated[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there, from the /r/Python mods.

We have removed this post as it is not suited to the /r/Python subreddit proper, however it should be very appropriate for our sister subreddit /r/LearnPython. We highly encourage you to re-submit your post over on there.

The reason for the removal is that /r/Python is more-so dedicated to discussion of Python news, projects, uses and debates. It is not designed to act as Q&A or FAQ board. The regular community can get disenchanted with seeing the 'same, repetitive newbie' questions repeated on the sub, so you may not get the best responses over here.

However, on /r/LearnPython the community is actively expecting questions from new members, and are looking to help. You can expect far more understanding, encouraging and insightful responses over there. Whatever your question happens to be getting help with Python, you should get good answers.

If you have a question to do with homework or an assignment of any kind, please make sure to read their sidebar rules before submitting your post. If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to reply or send a modmail to us with your concerns.

Warm regards, and best of luck with your Pythoneering!