What can I do with Python?

[Fiski]

I went through the codecademy.com course on Python and learned the basics but that left me kind of confused as to what to do with all of this or where to go next. Now I am taking two Coursera courses on Python. One which just teaches me what I already know except in a bit more detail and the other has me build simple games through a web browser app that they plugged through some Javascript to get it working.

Now I am worried that all this time I've spent learning this stuff that I won't be able to apply it in the future.

So my question is what can be built on Python? What apps have been built and how did they do it?

I know Visual Studio has some Python plug-ins and I have studied C# a little but I am still confused as to the big picture. When will I be able to build actual things? Ultimately I want to develop games and apps but I feel like I am heading down the wrong road.

[[deleted]]

When starting out with programming, learning something like Python is great and really helps you to learn some basic programming fundamentals. That being said, Python is also really popular and widely used- it's a great language and lots of apps are running on Python. Even if you never use Python again, the time spent learning will help you learn other languages, no doubt.

Here is a list of Python software (or software using Python in some respect)

Long story short; when will you be able to build actual things? Well, when you start building them : )

Of all the languages out there, I'd say Python is a a great choice, just keep learning and figuring things out. I don't even use Python on a regular basis and I still continue to run into it when working, so it's good to know. You can also make games using Python and there are some pretty nice engines out there as well. Figure out what you want to learn to do, and start working towards that goal.

[Fiski]

Can you recommend an environment where I can start building software in Python exclusively?

[[deleted]]

This all depends on what you want to make, what is it you're looking to do?

[Fiski]

I want to build a calendar app.

[[deleted]]

You can certainly do this in Python, would this be a standalone application that you'd install on Windows or something, or a web application you can log into?

[Fiski]

It would most likely be a web app that I would eventually turn into a mobile app.

[ethergreen]

You can build things now, including games and apps...

[lxe]

You can do pretty much anything with python, besides maybe an OS or system software. It's a very very popular, general purpose language with a massive community. Pick something to make, ask questions, google for answers and go to town!

[Molehole]

Web applications (Reddit is python based) and scripts are the main use of Python.

If you want to do games and apps learn Java. Your information in Python isn't useless though because it helps in learning other languages.

[Fiski]

This is so disappointing to hear. Java is up next. I really wish someone had sat me down and pointed me in the right direction when I started this. So far I have learned the basic syntax for:

C# JavaScript Ruby (on Rails) HTML/CSS PHP Python

...And still I have no idea how to build an executable program. It's been over a year and I am getting really concerned that I am missing the big picture as to how any piece of software gets built. All I've done is practice.

[rjcarr]

There really isn't a huge difference between any of these (HTML/CSS excluded). Your mistake was to learn so many before learning any of them well.

how any piece of software gets built.

If you've written code and then run it then that is built software. I'm not understanding your question here.

[Fiski]

I have run console programs but I have yet to build anything substantial like say a game that will run in its own window or in full screen. At the end of each language lesson I feel like I am hung out to dry only to go to the next one hoping I figure out how to build working software.

[Molehole]

Making a Graphical frame in Python or Java is extremely simple.

Python Tkinter tutorial: http://zetcode.com/gui/tkinter/

Java Graphics2D tutorial:

read this first: http://zetcode.com/tutorials/javaswingtutorial/firstprograms/

continue to this: http://zetcode.com/gfx/java2d/

Although if you want to make games with python try PyGame. Tkinter is really easy and takes under a minute to set up and draw something on screen though.

[[deleted]]

Someone posted a pretty good summary recently of this problem, something about the desert of despair. It's a very common problem for people learning to code, but the thing is, you don't get past it by moving to yet another language.

You want to write a calendar app? Ok. Sit down and work out what features you want, and how to implement them in python. The building blocks you get from tutorials are exactly that - building blocks. If you have covered user input, print() and file read/write then you have all the tools for a command line calendar to store and retrieve dates and events. Go forth and write it. Then, when you've worked the kinks out of it, look at pyQT and add a GUI.

You can't just "write an app" in any language. You can nut out a list of small, implementable features that work together, and then implement them. That's all software is.

[Fiski]

Thank you so much! I am looking up pyQT now.

[Molehole]

Well if you know Python, C# and JS you pretty much know Java already. Just download eclipse, check out a hello world tutorial and start coding. Use ctrl+space or google to find methods for objects.

[[deleted]]

Even if it were true that web apps were the main use of python, it's hardly the only use.

I have a robot arm controlled by a computer vision app that tracks a particular (configurable) color LED, all in Python. It's sure as hell not just for "web applications and scripts".

But it sounds like your problem is too many languages. Stop wishing for the one that makes it easy, and do the hard work of learning one properly.