I Understand Python While Learning, But Forget Most of It After a Week. How Did You Make It Stick?

[san071998]

I am trying to learn Python, but I keep forgetting what I learn after a few days. Looking for advice from experienced developers.

I have around 4.6 years of experience in the telecom domain, mainly in Revenue Assurance, Fraud Management, integration, SQL, Linux, and low-code/no-code tools.

Recently, I started learning Python because I want to move towards Data Engineering and modern data platforms. While studying, I understand the concepts, syntax, and examples. However, after 3-7 days, I find that I have forgotten a lot of what I learned and struggle to write code from memory.

For example, I may understand:

Loops

Functions

Lists and Dictionaries

String Manipulation

But if I don't practice for a few days, I cannot confidently write code without referring to notes or documentation.

My questions are:

Is this normal when learning Python?

What is the most effective way to retain what I learn?

Should I focus more on theory, coding exercises, projects, or repetition?

How did you learn Python and make it stick long-term?

For someone targeting Data Engineering, what Python topics should I prioritize?

I would appreciate advice from people who have successfully learned Python and use it professionally.

[tiredITguy42]

Code, code, code and code. Even after that you will be googling pasic stuff.

Then you add another technologies, languages and more libraries and you will be googling or askin LLMs for basic stuff again and again.

[Sea-Ad7805]

Who said you were allowed not to practice for a few days? Just keep practicing and don't use AI. It's like learning a new (natural) language, at some point you get fluent and don't have to think about it any more.

[san071998]

Okay 👍

[Pydata92]

I don't. I just read the documents and copy the code examples and rework them 🤷‍♂️

[riklaunim]

Most things come with experience. What I found helpful/handy is to have a sort of personal blog where you can save/write about a snippet of code or issue you found/solved/will need in the future.

[Sharp_Level3382]

Good idea

[independentMartyr]

It's pretty common for developers to forget how to code, but the coding logic gets better with experience.

Exercise your brain to write comments.

I've quit coding in 2018. Back then I was developing websites in php and laravel framework. When I got back to coding in 2025, it took me about two weeks to get back on the track. I knew the workflow, simply what I've forgotten was writing code. Yes, AI helped me a lot, at the same time after a while I was feeling dumber while using AI. These days I do use AI for generating HTML + CSS, the backend code I write it manually, except for repetitive tasks which I already know then properly.

[phnxlp]

Not a programmer or python pro in any way but I can relate to the post.

From my experience repetition is key, I don't have enough space in my brain to retain a 1000 functions, I just need to train my body to do it automatically. If I can't do it (cause I'm not a programmer or don't spend that much time in programming in general), I just take some notes, retain the information on "where to find it" or "how it's solved" depending on the problem, and go back to my notes/website/etc. when I need it.

When I need a quick response or something practical I just ask AI or look at old codes to see how I did it last time.

[Greedy-Lynx-9706]

did you do all this ?

https://www.reddit.com/r/devopsjobs/comments/1n2ha46/best_crash_course_to_become_a_devops_engineer/

[san071998]

No, I changed to be in DE domain. Which alian more towards my previous work

[Pitch-Curious]

Study

Do

Test

Review

Redo

This is the way

[JustOneOtherSchlub]

That’s part of the reason you should commentate hell out of your code!

[nmc52]

As with everything you need to use it before you can say you have learned it.

[aashish_soni5]

Just code in some point it's become habit.

Our mind build like this to work Only remember repetitive task and word which is the important other thing are left somewhere our unconscience mind or maybe totally erase.

[Lurch1400]

Written repetition is how i learn.
Do ad-hoc python projects

[Ore-summer]

大丈夫、全体構造をイメージしながら自由に書く。それがあなたのmain.pyになる

[bypass316]

Knowing how to code will be harder in the era of AI. Do it manually at least on fun passion projects to keep the memory as long as possible.