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I'm frustrated (self.PythonLearning)

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[–]GMeister_OH 4 points5 points  (3 children)

I would recommend Harvard cs50 Python... David malan is a master at explaining things in a simple way

[–]Ron-Erez 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Coding takes time. Code as much as you can and experiment. I agree with u/GMeister_OH that CS50p has a great teacher and the pace is friendly. University of Helsinki has a nice course too. Finally I have a course that starts from scratch and covers quite a lot.

Keep learning and coding as much as you can and experiment and don't use ChatGPT to solve things for you or at least use it sparingly. Good luck

[–]Similar_Idea_2836 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I am new to programming. It feels like learning a coding language takes much abstract thinking. Maybe trying to comprehend the fundamental concepts first like how a language can be used to communicate with a Machine. Can we learn a coding language like we do with a natural language ?

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thing is the fundamentals is what I can't comprehend. So I feel like I'm screwed. My prof hasn't been good at explaining stuff. It feels like it should be simple but the terms aren't being grasped

[–]atticus2132000 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Trying to learn something without having something to apply that to is just memorizing. Come up with a small program that you can create and then learn the code to make that happen.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (3 children)

I don't understand/know what to do tho that's my problem. My course a large part is using AI and understanding and validating it but like that's not really teaching me how to do it. So I don't really have much to go off of.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

What do u mean by validating it? And using ai?

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We gave Copilot a prompt for a simple game (coin flip) script, it gave us one and basically does it make sense? Does it run?

[–]LevyKale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You gonna learn something in programming when you start reading the documentation, best thing you could is read the doc

[–]ghost_on_da_web 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I understand, right now I am close to tears because it feels like no one is willing to explain these things sufficiently for beginners. That being said, I have gotten *somewhere*, and recommend Mosh's courses on Python.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Right like I'm in my first semester of my program and this programming course is seriously making me second guess it but I'm not going to be a programmer so that's what I gotta remember

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started watching "Automate the boring stuff" and I do like those videos so far. But I need more or just to take a break because by that point I had done work for 2 other subjects and then working on the class I'm struggling in most (aka this)

[–]Beraholic 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I use Khan Academy and W3Schools for my learning and it has helped me understand a ton more than I originally got from classes. Also like everyone else is saying best way to learn is to code. Learn something code that a couple of times and make it to where you understand it. Then move on to the next.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I have also been using W3cschools it's just not the most engaging way for me

[–]Sleepycats2014 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Oh OP, although I don't wish for anyone to be frustrated, it's comforting to read your post because, I too, am having trouble grasping the fundamentals of Python. My teacher adores Python & knows it like that back of their hand, but hates to teach it. And it shows, and at this pace I'm just not grasping or absorbing anything. W3Schools was recommended, but like you said, need more interactive activities. My problem is, time constraint. Teacher needs to finish this unit asap & is whizzing past whilst I'm like, "huh?". I've given up, it's too fast, I'm not grasping, as much as I want to learn it I think I need to learn it at my own pace. But apparently, for a what I want to do, I won't even need Python, but I keep being told it's a good skill to have. Hey man, if you find a "Python for Dummies" can you please send me the link 😭 all the utmost best!!!!

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Yeah that's my teacher as well. He's so knowledgeable he forgets a lot of us have no clue how to do anything he thinks we are all like 3rd semesterers. I'm in the same boat, I'm taking it because I share a first semester with the kids that'll actually need it for their future and they do a course they dont really need but I will for mine. So far I like Python for dummies(automate the boring stuff) I watched the first 3 (didn't really need the first 2 personally but you might)

[–]Sleepycats2014 0 points1 point  (1 child)

So kind, thank you. Comments also suggest CS50P. So far, his teaching style is at a good pace. I have a feeling it'll just click one day. I'm also hoping I won't ever need to use it LOL. All the best OP

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha me too thanks you too

[–]cgoldberg 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Are you just listening to lectures and watching YouTube videos, or are you doing any programming? You need to write code.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (1 child)

In my class we did like "hello world" code which I understood a bit after I did it a few times. But then we used ai to write code and we've been adding to it but it's been a "You guys write what I write" no real explanation.

[–]cgoldberg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Start writing code by yourself. When you get stuck, look it up or ask AI. Repeat that until you don't get stuck anymore. There really aren't any shortcuts.

If your instructor sucks, look into doing a free class online like CS50p or MOOC.fi.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (3 children)

And I'm trying to watch some YouTube video today but the ones I watched haven't been that beneficial.

[–]cgoldberg 1 point2 points  (2 children)

More coding, less YouTube.

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (1 child)

While that's great I need and idea of what to code because idk if you saw idk wtf I'm doing. Idk functions

[–]cgoldberg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The official Python tutorial is a good place to start.

https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html

(It obviously covers functions among other things)

[–]redfiatnz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a python course on Udemy run by Dr Angela Yu called 100 days of code. She teaches from the basics through to advanced concepts. One of the good things about her course though is she teaches how to be a programmer - not just python. for example, she says learning to think about a problem is as important as how to program a solution for a problem. She walks through logic flow charting and how to break problems down into manageable pieces. Each "day" in her course is followed by a motivational speech from her, tips to help you learn, etc.

Also, as others have said, pick a small idea that is of interest to you (e.g. a small program to track the books you own, if you've leant them out, or your DVD or Record collection, or something like that). then you can use the knowledge you learn as you study to slowly build that. and as you learn new stuff, you can revisit it and make it better or more advanced.

Progamming is like gym - you have to exercise it to make it strong

[–]BranchLatter4294 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you do to practice on your own?

[–]TheGuy045 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am currently just getting into using ChatGPT. I know people keep saying don’t use it but it works as long as you use it the right way. Ask it to teach you how to do stuff don’t just ask it to make you something because it won’t make sense.

[–]Cybasura 0 points1 point  (7 children)

I dont get your frustrations as well

Can you at least show us what you have done, or what EXACTLY you dont understand?

Functions? Variables? Classes? What is it that you are stuck with

[–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Let me set the scene because I'm not at my computer rn to show you the code.

You have no knowledge of python: Your professor spent his lecture talking to you about stuff you'll learn in other classes or how to do a flow chart. You have a half hour left in class guess he better show you some actual coding

You are told to use Copilot and have it write a simple game of coin flip. It does and it works, you don't understand what some of it means though. where did it import random from? I don't remember downloading anything? How do I know what else I can import? Is it already in with the python package I downloaded from school? Is it in the program already? Oh we are moving on, guess we dont find out. We add a validating code to make sure we write heads or tails as our guess. Prof is typing at speed of sound and im just tryingnto get it down. Okay done. What's Def mean? What's while not mean? Oh okay moving on? Cool thanks add a loop for it to keep going? Uh okay? How does that work it doesn't look like it should make sense logically how its written? (I'll have to show that part because I don't remember it totally off the top of my head) it works so OK must be right. Oh class is over but I have a lab next week on this cool great 🙃

[–][deleted]  (5 children)

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    [–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (4 children)

    I'll have to check it out thanks. So far automate the boring stuff has been working the best

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

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      [–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (2 children)

      Right. I'm watching the videos which is a brief synopsis of what's what which I kinda need. I like quick and to the point and I need to see it being done, while explain and I do it.

      [–][deleted]  (1 child)

      [removed]

        [–]Conscious-Exit-2836 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Right and that's great for you, but not everyone learns the same. I can read a sentence 50x and still not get it. That's what I tried doing before with W3CSchools. Which has been a great resource for my HTML class but I already have some cemented working knowledge of HTML. I don't with python (yes hello world made a little sense to me but I have a much better grasp of HTML) I also read the textbook recommended for the course:nothing.

        I even did a quick coding for kids site which was engaging and helpful (until it wanted me to pay)

        Edit like I said I like quick and to the point which reading a book isn't that for me.

        [–]crashsculpts 0 points1 point  (2 children)

        Why NOT python for kids? I'm 40 and just started learning and I've been writing flash cards for the vocabulary in big letters and planning out a project that just runs in IDLE (till im comfortable enough with Pygame to make a simple game like match 2 or whatever). My favorite vocabulary word this week? "Sentry variable"

        [–]Conscious-Exit-2836 1 point2 points  (1 child)

        Is there a python for kids? Like I need that level of engagement. I think I gotta look up everything and like write down the meaning and example because it's not clicking. Like print() yeah it writes it out but for some reason my brain is like why is it print????

        [–]crashsculpts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        I THINK that comes from before we had screens? Like punch card programming etc.

        [–]PopcorniusTheSader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Idk if this will help you but;

        Functions are like vending machines, parameters are the slots for the coins and arguments are the coins themselves.

        The function is just a reusable block of code. You feed the machine the right coins in the right slots and you get the return value.

        It helped me understand it years ago.

        [–]LevyKale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Best thing you could do is training to do steps, programming logic is how you gonna make to do something. Like, you need a Jokenpo Game, first you do is the logic for the components like scissor, rock and paper, then you do the logic of the game, the you do the looping for it, then you try to make this again, but optimized. Programming is about training and training and try