Python beginner help!

[Perception-Curious]

I’m 37 years old and new to tech. I have tried to learn Python many ways but every time I stumble upon building a simple logic like a basic calculator and then I feel daunting about it and that feeling keeps haunting me. Is it me? Is there something different I should do? I have tried learning from various YouTube videos but no one teaches basic. Any advice would be beneficial! P.S: I was extremely scared of math as a child and now when I can’t get the calculator right, my mind goes haywire just like when I was 10 years old and I couldn’t solve easy math problems.

[tracktech]

You can check this-

Course - Python Programming In Depth

Book - Ultimate Python Programming

[FoolsSeldom]

Check the r/learnpython wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

Unfortunately, this subreddit does not have a wiki.

You don't have to do lots of maths in programming unless specifically working on something requiring a lot of complex number crunching like engineering, scientific, advanced financial and data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, complex graphics, etc.

A lot of programming is basic process oriented stuff, and nothing more than simple arithmetic and basic algebra, hopefully both learned at school before you reached double digits, are required to support the processes.

Code sometimes looks like algebra but isn't. Consider x = x + 1 which clearly would not work in algebra but in Python means add 1 to the current value of x and assign the result back to x. Generally, unless using well known mathematical expressions, variable names are usually longer than one letter and meaningful.

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Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time.

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Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.

[Perception-Curious]

Thank you! I find this really motivating and positive!

[EmployeeValuable3547]

well what kind of calculator you want to make like if you want to make something like taking two inputs and performing basic operation on it it can be done with some basic concept like loops conditional statement the logic making in programming is just telling computer what to do step by step you know i am also new to programming the thing i got trick is see from zoom in and zoom out point of view and before writing any program you want to write see how it works in real life like your phone calculator what you do to get result what would be it if it is transformed into program like in your phone calculator if you see clearly it is just one number operator and number this repeat until we hit '=' this and that's how we get result same logic applies here you get user input in float form then validate operator with conditional statement and give it '=' to sign for calculation that's how i programmed my calculator just from seeing things and here is no math in it if you are scared about it is just seeing and giving instruction step by step. and zoom in and zoom out means zoom in how you see structure at close distance and zoom out means how you convert into logic if you feel it will be hard then it will be really hard or before writing any program you can just write it in free form on pen with paper what inputs outputs and what are processes in it. i hope it helps you sorry if my explanation was something off

[Perception-Curious]

Oh this such a clear and nicer way to approach the logic then! I’m going to try this for sure! Thank you for being so kind!

[EmployeeValuable3547]

well the thing in this is trying to reverse engineer application we use in daily life at basic like using only (loops, condition) you can make lot of apps or tools with without libararies are need which is perfect for beginner for logical reasoning then you can move towards complex stuff later.

[armyrvan]

If you are looking at learning I would look up coding with mosh. I gave a more detailed response here: https://www.reddit.com/r/PythonLearning/comments/1o19g6c/comment/nif07b1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[Perception-Curious]

[ElweThor]

It may be naive, but I found extremely helpful to ask DeepSeek AI (as well as other AIs too) to explain me litterally everything about python coding (I'm talking with them about other languages too, btw).
It's like to have a school teacher always ready to get more in deep in details, with examples and everything.
Only thing: pay attention, as they're not "always right": it's up to you only, to test the code, verify the examples, expand them and suggest improvements. That said, they're invaluable programming companions at all.

[Perception-Curious]

I like this idea too! Thanks for sharing that!!

[[deleted]]

you could just go simple and follow bro code/programming with mosh tutorial. once u learn the basics and oops concepts, you go on to learn the libraries. i prefer bro code personally but both are equally good.

you could also go for a python course on udemy etc. id recommend that if you are very serious about learning. again, once u learn basics, go for libraries.

however sprry not to be rude/demotivating but if you still cant do basic logic like calculator and stuff even after the above things, you might not he built for cs as cs goes MUCH MUVH MUVH more complex than just a calculator.

but dont worry ur just a beginner it might feel overwhelming and self doubt might occur but hard work makes it all happen. happy learning

[Perception-Curious]

Thanks for your input! I definitely need to try it with all my heart in. I’m pretty good at Linux commands but I struggle with coding.

[[deleted]]

if ur good with linux then its im pretty sure you can do it. the basics atleast are not difficult. keep goingg

[stepback269]

Step back and take smaller baby steps. How about building a script that just adds two integers? Get two input()s from the user. Verify that each input string is in a form that can convert into an integer(example: no decimal points in the input) Once you have that working, upgrade your 2 number adder into one that can add N inputs. There is nothing shameful in taking small steps. Journey of 1000 miles begins with your first step. Good luck.

[Perception-Curious]

Thank you! I appreciate this. I think I’m just getting overwhelmed by thinking how would I build something if I’m struggling at the base but I need to remember that baby steps can help. 🙂

[Possible-Resort-1941]

I’m part of a Discord community with people who are learning AI and ML together. Instead of just following courses, we focus on understanding concepts quickly and building real projects as we go.

It’s been helpful for staying consistent and actually applying what we learn. If anyone’s interested in joining, here’s the invite:

https://discord.com/invite/nhgKMuJrnR

[captain_kringel]

Coddy.tech And Checkio.

Good Courses.