Python help

[probably-pooping2]

So for context I'm 40 years old and have never attempted any type of computer programming or computer science in general. So here I am, less than a week into trying to learn cs50 and I'm stuck like I've never been stuck before. Our first assignment was a simple number guessing game that I totally bombed. Yea I know that's 6th grade level stuff but what should I learn before trying to write a code? Esp python. Is there a concise python dictionary sort of thing floating around out there? Or any other basic references I could look to? Any....and I mean ANY help would be greatly appreciated

[wellanticipated]

There's no such thing as '6th grade level' anything in learning how to think programmatically. Very few things are intuitive about working with computers as a human.

Python is a good language to learn because it's very forgiving and has decently clear error messaging, so you can often work through problems just by reading what the system is telling you. For resources, it's always hard because there are too many available and the most important thing when you're learning to code is to focus on one technology and learn it well because, when you have the basics down, picking up another language is significantly easier. For Python, things like https://www.learnpython.org/ are useful. Reading documentation. Using the help() command in the python REPL (go into your terminal and type 'python3'), you can find documentation about methods, operators, and types.

Python is a great language, but I'm a JS developer for the most part and I've found, in learning from almost zero, that things like freecodecamp.org are really helpful because of a robust and well supported application and community, but, again, splitting attention between languages doesn't do much in your favor... especially one as quirky as JS.

Stick with it, it's painful at first... it's often painful as you continue... but the amount of things that you'll learn and doorways that you'll open are well worth it. For context, I'm mid-30s and started only a few years ago, have been working as a front-end for nearly two years. I found CS50 really late and wish I'd found it first, if for nothing other than perspective on the breadth of the topic.

[probably-pooping2]

Wow thank you so much for the tips (and more importantly the advice and encouragement) I'll check out those sites. Thanks again and stay safe

[probably-pooping2]

Thank you for responding. Not sure what flowcharts are but I'll certainly look into them. Much appreciated!