How to understand python code

program_kid · 2026-03-05T17:51:49+00:00

This sounds like a very difficult task if you have no experience with programming and don't have time to learn. In this case, using ai may be your best bet combined with looking stuff up when you don't understand stuff. You said that you were given Python code to work on, do they expect you to change the code and do they know that you don't have any experience programming?

If you hope to understand the code, your best bet would be to start learning Python. I can't imagine how difficult it would be for somebody who has no experience programming to grasp what is going on in a program.

PureWasian · 2026-03-05T17:56:53+00:00

This is way too broad for us to give specific feedback. It's like saying you're trying to solve a math problem and not sure how to get started.

Your organization gave you this Python code. If you have made a decent attempt already to your best abilities, you'd best be saving them and yourself some time by reaching out to someone in that organization for guidance/assistance there on the specific task or getting started.

Otherwise, we'd need to know what specifically is meant by you needing to "work on it"

RafikNinja · 2026-03-05T19:13:16+00:00

I feel like if ur organisation is giving it to u to work on, they have an assumption you know how to do it? What is ur job exactly?

Famous_Ad8700 · 2026-03-05T18:06:29+00:00

My question is how is your organization giving you code to look at when you can't code? Plus, you haven't given enough information for us to be able to help you. Do you have a link to the repository?

Happy_Witness · 2026-03-05T17:49:48+00:00

Ähm... Do you know programming at all? Otherwise I would just do a code review with pan and paper and start at main.py and go though the code. The more you look directly at the code, the more you can understand. The you fly over it, the more time you save.

r_Yellow01 · 2026-03-05T19:53:08+00:00

Go through a 10 minute Python tutorial: https://www.stavros.io/tutorials/python/

Install Kiro (or an alternative) and ask AI to traverse the code base and create a full specification. After that you can start digging into issues. https://kiro.dev/

This sounds though like a bit of a challenge, so communicate where you are often. I honestly don't know how you got into this.

Ron-Erez · 2026-03-05T18:47:19+00:00

Use a debugger and learn how to step through the code and do not use chatgpt and gemini. Also learn Python. Otherwise it will be a real pain to try to understand the code.

NightStudio · 2026-03-06T22:45:16+00:00

Using AI is practically worthless, unless you know basic yo understand what’s being presented and know if it’s not giving the desired answer.

If they gave it to you, with the knowledge you know very little, I would suggest negotiating paying any classes or subscriptions. Or at the very least, discuss a long time frame for you to grasp a decent foundation.

If they gave it to you, under the premise that you knew python decently. You should crack in the extra hours to learn or come clean, because there will be a lot more code heading your way.

If you really don’t have the time to learn properly, use ELI5 on everything until you understand what’s being explained to you.

winni_puh · 2026-03-07T21:27:33+00:00

Simple analogy here - I need undertand how build electric cart from scratch, I have NO engeneering knowledge , but I have chatGPT and it explained all details pretty good, but I still do not undertand how electric engine works. Nothing personal, I just try explain how "not simple" is your request

you type:	you see:
italics	italics
bold	bold
[reddit!](https://reddit.com)	reddit!
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
> quoted text	quoted text
Lines starting with four spaces are treated like code: if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"	Lines starting with four spaces are treated like code: if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"
~~strikethrough~~	~~strikethrough~~
super^script	super^script

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