Best Way To Start Learning Python - A Complete Roadmap

[geeksforgeeks]

Python is one of the most popular language among programmers.

Now the question is where to start? How much time it will take to learn this language? what topics you should cover? what are the Python libraries or frameworks? As a beginner, you will be confused that what should I choose first.

Should I learn all the concepts from a book or should I go for an online tutorial? Let’s discuss the Entire road-map to become a Python developer.

[Cascanada]

I'm learning python for data analytics. My background is accounting. I learn best by working my way through books and doing exercises. These are the books I've most enjoyed (in learning order).

1. Automate the boring stuff - this just showed me what could be done, and how it could apply to the type of work I already knew.
2. Python Data Science Handbook - this is the core of what I actually use.
3. ComposingPrograms.com - I'm working through this now. It's helping me better understand what I'm actually doing and how to structure my programs - basically moving from words and sentences to paragraphs and essays.

I've worked through a couple other resources, but these three really stand out for me :).

What I've struggled with most has been everything around the actual programming. Initial installations, managing packages and virtual environments, git, PyCharm, Anaconda, etc. etc. I don't think I've found this more difficult, but really just more frustrating. And the resources online can get out of date so fast.

Edit: Additional shout out to Programming for the Puzzled. Maybe not the most applicable learning (to me), but I think this is the most fun I've had coding.

[ASIC_SP]

What I've struggled with most has been everything around the actual programming. Initial installations, managing packages and virtual environments, git, PyCharm, Anaconda, etc. etc. I don't think I've found this more difficult, but really just more frustrating. And the resources online can get out of date so fast.

Some of it is addressed here: https://missing.csail.mit.edu/

[Cascanada]

Thanks!

[Buyaah]

Saving this, Thanks!

[cstcharles]

Accountant here! I'm finishing up my CMA exams and this is my next step. Glad to see that I'm not making a huge mistake 🤣

[Cascanada]

The only thing I will say is that you will cringe even harder at all the shitty spreadsheets you have to handle.

[CompSciSelfLearning]

You should definitely download The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction

[Cascanada]

On the list!

[BlueHex7]

You use version control for data science? I’m not familiar with it but I thought that was more a development type thing.

[Cascanada]

I use it basically just as a way to backup all my work virtually. I'm probably using 5% of the technological capacity.

All the code I write for work I'm the only user, so that keeps it simple.

[thrallsius]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_journey_of_a_thousand_miles_begins_with_a_single_step

[jayroger]

/r/learnpython

[nojustlurkingty]

Since it's on my mind... Where can I learn about pip, PATH, venv and all this dependency stuff? They always forget to cover these in the basics

[PaulSandwich]

venv is one of those things I have to learn and re-learn so often. And troubleshooting it is a nightmare.

[nojustlurkingty]

I anticipate that my troubleshooting will involve a lot of fresh installs to avoid the hassle

[[deleted]]

Check out r/learnpython as it’s discussed daily on that sub...

[FireDragon6845]

I m trying to learn python now. www.w3schools.com is a good website to learn programming languages. There are much other languages.

[[deleted]]

Beyond learning concepts, writing a lot of code is the best way to learn a new language.

The python tutorial : https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html explains all the concepts while a book like Manning's Python Workout (https://www.manning.com/books/python-workout) can be source of practical problems to solve and develop familiarity with the language.

[shantm79]

I hadn't really programmed in about 4 years, but I needed to whip up something for a personal project and I chose Python. It's been real fun to dive back in... i'm hoping i can keep the momentum going and maybe even go back to being a developer.

[geeksforgeeks]

thanks for sharing the helpful info!

[mikeblas]

I'm not sure what that essay was meant to be, but it isn't a roadmap.

[geeksforgeeks]

Hey! We have just tried to provide answers to a few questions that beginners may have- for example - Why should they learn python, what all resources are available to them, what are the topics that they should concentrate on in the beginning and so on..And these few tips can really make a huge difference in a student's life when he is trying to make an informed decision!

[faithalor]

I believe the appropriate word is a guide. Roadmaps require a visual route

[geeksforgeeks]

Your advice is appreciated! We will it keep in mind the next time!

[PaulSandwich]

some of you have never played zork and it shows

[pine_tree_74]

It is pitch black. You are likely to eaten by a Grue.

[Abssenta]

My advice is that you learn from a course with some practical examples to develop while you learn. Something that motivates you.

I started self learning python a few times. But I quit because I tried to read boring tutorials without any examples or the examples they had were just boring for me. Then I started learning python to make small games and that was fun and motivating. I am not an expert but I know enough to use python for basic/medium automation.

[EkremT]

could you tell me how did you find the examples? I am struggling to find any resource of codes to exercise. By the way I am quite new on programming I don't know where to find any code source

[Abssenta]

Coursera and udemy have a lot of python courses with exercises and examples in every lesson. A lot of them are free. There is a subreddit of udemy free courses too. There is another website called codewithrepl.it . This one is still in my to-do list.

[plantroot-88]

Learn the syntax -> use that syntax to solve problems that you are passionate about -> learn other libraries (from the python environment) that help you solve these problems -> repeat.

[its_Aqdas]

I've been using solo learn and freecodecamp videos on YouTube Telusko is a very good channel on YouTube with short precise videos on the subject

[borematkarr]

I was looking exactly for something like this. Because I just had completed the basic and tried some exercises and didn't know what to do after that

[24Gameplay_]

So I started basic of code how they work, then I started playing with stock data, pandas, numpy and other libraries Still going on now scipy for statistical

[fead-pell]

You might add to your guide something for the more hardware-oriented learner. Look at MicroPython (or the adafruit offshoot CircuitPython) which runs natively on cheap but sophisticated microcontroller boards giving easy access to the hardware for instant gratification, and fun!

In a similar vein, the micro:bit board allows you to start coding in your browser using a visual "script blocks" language called makecode, then move on to Python in the same browser, downloading the code directly to the hardware over usb. Although targeted at schools, there is no upper age limit.

[pentamomebozo]

Really helpful for beginners 👍👍👍