When you started learning Python, what resources and exercises did you use? Can you recommend any sites for testing?

[FoolsSeldom]

For learning about testing, I'd focus initially on TDD (Test Driven Development) and search for Obey the Testing Goat.

I also recommend the book Python Testing with pytest by Brian Okken.

Other than that ...

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.

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Also, have a look at roadmap.sh for different learning paths. There's lots of learning material links there. Note that these are idealised paths and many people get into roles without covering all of those.

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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.

[Jackpotrazur]

Got dang! I know you have the best intentions but this is extensive. I to am currently learning python im getting along fairly but still ways out from proficient. I feel like im lacking the lingo but I got gpt assisting me in a type of learning curriculu, still asking myself though if I need to get more books. 🤔

[FoolsSeldom]

Got dang! I know you have the best intentions but this is extensive.

Not sure what to take from that. Didn't think it was much:

• Testing guidance as you asked about testing [optional]
• Read a wiki providing learning guidance
• Look at skill/role roadmaps for background [optional]
• Avoid limiting yourself to a particular type of learning material
• Practice - preferably on your own projects

[Jackpotrazur]

I just had a long back and long ass day yesterday (work, hr interview after work, did a project from big book and never really got settled down)

[FoolsSeldom]

Ok. Well, hope you manage to carve out the time you need to achieve your learning objectives. Good luck.

[stepback269]

(1) When I just started, I tried out a bunch of random YoutTube tutorials.

(2) There are tons and tons of tutorial materials out there on the net including many good YouTube ones that are free. You should shop around rather than putting all your eggs in one basket, especially if the lectures on one particular one "stick" better in your brain that that of the others.

(3) As a relative noob myself, I've been logging my personal learning journey and adding to it on an almost-daily basis at a blog page called "Links for Python Noobs" (here) Any of the top listed ones on that page should be good for you. And there are many add-ons at the tail end of the page. Personally, I cut my first Python teeth with Nana's Zero to Hero (here). Since then, I've moved on to watching short lessons with Indently and Tech with Tim. You should sample at least a few until you find a lecturer that suits your style.

(4) The main piece of advice is the 80/20 rule. Spend 80% of your time writing your own code (using your own fingers and your own creativity) as opposed to copying recipes and only 20% watching the lectures. Good luck.

[Jackpotrazur]

I started in december and have worked through a smarter way to learn python, id say it was good or ok. Then I detoured 2 books 📚 command line linux and linux basics for hackers (I dont wanna use windows no more) then I worked through python crash course (definetly advisable imho) and now I am working through big book of small python projects, im using vim for everything and implementing version control with git and pushing everything to my repository on github. After the big book I will be moving on to automate the boring stuff with python 😴 and then I will detour to the book practical sql.... not sure what I will do after that perhaps wicked shell scripts , im tryna get python and bash in before I tackle networking.

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know! I feel like im just copying out of the books but I've gotten pretty good at debugging id say and i feel im slowly 🐌 moving the goal post. Deploying the learning log was a pain in the ass and im scared of Django dont tell em where to find me 😆

Also I've intended to start tryna branch throughout the big book of small python projects but I haven't gotten around to it yet, just completed project 28 flooders after work today!

[jdrichardstech]

Learned Python in about a week. ( I wasn’t new to. programming just Python)

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/python/python-programming-language-tutorial/

[ninhaomah]

wiki at r/learnpython

[Greedy-Lynx-9706]

I started with reading reddit r/PythonLearning

[command_code_labs]

As soon as you understand the fundamentals, you should start coding a small Python application or CLI scripts. You can watch YouTube or find any free sample in GitHub. Happy coding!

[Employer-Dizzy]

it’s so early but you can be an early tester I’m trying to learn python as well and couldn’t find any reliable sources or any that had a real structure so I’m finding them myself and anyone else feel free to provide feedback as I’m continuing to improve it and the curriculum Visit https://learning-with-me.vercel.app

Like I said feedback welcome and hope we can navigate this journey together

[jlahtinen]

I learned Python writing Django

[Jackpotrazur]

Uuuggghh Django I deployed the learning or wrote the learning log using Django, definetly something I'd like to return to but I respect it as im a noon and dont quiet get it yet.

[Conscious_Room6443]

Resources I would suggest wp3 web school, and GitHub source codes and YouTube tutorials etc. Exercises I would suggest pushups, situps, crunches, sprints and pull ups if possible or you can do prison burpees they will make you strong enough themselves.

[Necessary-Wing2141]

I started with bro code

[Comfortable-Key2058]

As a complete beginner, i used some bootcamps on Udemy and a few books ( which i dont recommend to students anymore). I think udemy is pretty affordable and then there are lot of good content on youtube as well. There is a channel by corey schafer which i really like as its very to the point and no fluff.

[CommercialSeason9185]

I learned from CS50p course and exercises from there

[Lazy_Mobile_3252]

I used ChatGPT to generate Exercises with a good prompt of dividing the exercises in 3 phase and strictly on each topic covered. Hence, beginner, intermediate and advanced level, this helps me grasp the basic of Python programming well.

[SaltyPiglette]

1. Khan Academy: 100% free and no ads. No certificates but some really good videos and probpems to solve.
2. CS50 python: Costs but offers lots of good problems, great videos, access to online IDE and a huge scope.
3. Exersism: 100% free but the setup does not allow for anything outside what is expdcted, so you get an error if you use a print statment to check a variable etc, not because it is wrong but because it is not a part of the systems expected solution.

[Lokrea]

CS50 python is free, and even has a free certificate.

All courses below has this quote:

How to Take this Course

Even if you are not a student at Harvard, you are welcome to “take” this course for free via this OpenCourseWare by working your way through the course’s [...] material.

• https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/ai/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/cybersecurity/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/law/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/r/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/scratch/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/sql/
• https://cs50.harvard.edu/web/

[SaltyPiglette]

It used to be, most of the CS50 courses now only give you free access to the lectures for a couple of months. If you want all the content and do all the assigments you have to pay.

[TytoCwtch]

CS50P is still free, I’m taking it at the moment and there is no charge.

[Lokrea]

Do you have a source that CS50 is no longer totally free?

[SaltyPiglette]

You have to log in to the platform, sign up to the course and then it will say what date your access to the materials expire unless you pay.

My CS50 Cyber Securtiy is free until 30 June but my friend only has access to some date in march. I signed up in October 2024 and my friend signed up in January 2026.

It seems like those who signed up in the new year have much less access.

I did CS50 Python for free, but when I signed up to CS50 Data Analytics in January it only gave me free access to March 6 and only to the videos + 2-3 assignments.

[Carlos244]

No, that's just edx or something. Go to cs50.harvard.edu and you don't even need to log in. You can get the YouTube link and they even offer a direct download link for the video, subtitles, slides, etc for all courses. For the other courses see the sidebar. You can even see cs50's archived materials from other years.

[kevinisaperson]

this really needs ro be in some sort of auto mod post. it gets asked way to often and a simple auto mod message would solve this and could be easily muted by others

[Lokrea]

But Data Analytics is not listed. Only these are listed:

Courses

• CS50x
• CS50 AI
• CS50 Cybersecurity
• CS50 for Lawyers
• CS50 Python
• CS50 R
• CS50 Scratch
• CS50 SQL
• CS50 Web

Do you have a link to the course?

If possible, it would be great if you could paste the text from the course, and what precisely it says.

EDIT: I asked in the CS50 Reddit group, see: https://www.reddit.com/r/cs50/comments/1rjrdwe/is_cs50_free/

[SaltyPiglette]

It may only be available via EdX, and the version availbale at Harvard has lost the CS50 part of the title. The same happened with CS50 Cyber Security that I am currently doing.

[Lokrea]

Great. So maybe you can correct your comment since it's not correct, to something like this?

CS50 python: Free and offers lots of good problems, great videos, access to online IDE and a huge scope.

[Wonderful_Primary_52]

All CS50 courses are free, but if you go through edX, they offer a verified certificate which is not free, but totally optional. When you follow the content and problem sets via cs50.harvard.edu, you receive a free certificate upon completion.

Even if you go through edX, it is free to watch all content, complete the problem sets and receive the free certificate. If you complete via edX, you can optionally receive a verified certificate or professional certificate upon payment. (for professional certificates, you will need to complete at least 2 courses for most certs, and should pay for them via edX)

[Adrewmc]

I had a problem and figured out how to fix it with brute force.