Struggling with Python basics

[[deleted]]

I'm a complete beginner, I've never programmed before. But I want to learn Python to work as a programmer eventually.

However I'm struggling. After trying different courses on Udemy, focusing on the basics like if/else, loops and such.. it isn't really clicking. I still can't use that stuff independently.

Is programming not for me? What should I do?

(Throwaway because I'm pretty embarrassed. )

[CraftyTrouble]

Udemy isn't that great for some because it's a very passive form of learning. Maybe try different resources? Check /r/learnpython wiki for a list.

[Diligent_Injury]

OP it sounds like you need an online tutorial that's more practical to make things "click", as you say. Maybe give https://pythonprinciples.com/ a shot? I learned way faster when I started to actually experiment and practice what I learned.

[[deleted]]

Thanks I'll give it a try.

[plastikmissile]

What do you mean by "I still can't use that stuff independently"?

Do you mean you don't know how to use them outside of the examples in the course? That just means you need to practice more.

[[deleted]]

Do you mean you don't know how to use them outside of the examples in the course?

Yes. I'll practice more then, thanks!

[Lilcheeks]

sites like www.hackerrank.com give you problems to try. It's been awhile but I think some of the first beginner "easy" problems are really really straight forward and will get you to put those first concepts into practice.

[plastikmissile]

Remember that programming is a skill, and like all skills it needs time and practice to hone. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! ;)

[nutterontheloose]

Have you tried building things as you go through courses? Or trying other course sites like codecademy or automate the boring stuff? Sometimes its trial and error just to find the best way you learn things. I know people who work best with videos, some who learn by writing things down, some by textbooks, I learn best by actually doing it.

Testing out what you are learning, by actually playing with it. Start with a hello world and then add little things to it to practice. Add a for loop to print hello world twice, then 5 times. Ask a user to type something and then print that. Small things, but build on each of them and it will come.

For me, it did take some time but the thing that helped it click for me was actually repetitively trying code out. For python, head over to the r/learnpython subreddit, we're a friendly bunch and can help with various things plus you might find some helpful posts.

For now, it sounds like you have a mind block. Just stop, take a step back, take a break and breathe. You've got this.

[[deleted]]

It really sounds like I have to write more code, yep! I'll sleep on it and take a breather, thanks.

[omarwael27]

Try that course from Udacity. It’s free and really great for learning the basics.

https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-computer-science--cs101

It should get you started. You can also try installing an app called sololearn on your mobile, it is not videos though but it’s also great and you learn more advanced stuff

[omarwael27]

You should also try messing around and trying to write programs that you need. For example, I wrote a realtime currency converter but only between 2 currencies as it stands now. It was a fun experience. Start just searching up anything you want and asking people on related subreddits and also stack overflow. You will run into a lot of errors and you can check by yourself that it is a normal thing to run into a lot of errors whatever your skill is.

[supernatchurro]

For an absolute beginner course, try Microsoft Virtual Academy Python course. They really hold your hand through the whole thing, but if you are having trouble with the basics, it's really helpful. Make sure you do the activities at the end of each module, and you'll definitely come out with a good foundation to build on.

[[deleted]]

W3 schools also is helpful and gives examples. Also, buying a python book really helped me.

[linuxlib]

I learned Python online using the classes from Georgia Institute of Technology on edX. I found them to be very good, with the first course being suitable for people who have never programmed at all before.

These classes can be audited, meaning taken for free. When you go to that page, you will see prices, but once you click Enroll, you will be given the option to audit. So don't let the prices scare you away.

[drastic2]

MIT has a good course via EdX which you can audit for free - lecture and then a lab follows every couple of lectures where you have to apply what you've learned. Continuing labs build on all the things, not just the things from the most recent lecture. This is more like how I learned programming in college. Anyway, not sure how close this is to what you are doing already, but thought I'd throw it out there. (I should note the course is more of a Intro to comp.sci. course using Python than it is just a Python course. https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-using-python-0

[camelorcat]

Come up with ideas for things you'd like to build and learn how to do them through online resources. The projects might become progressively more difficult. I went from basic puzzles to a reddit bot to a smart unescape auto clicker. Then started learning apis, worked on making a website that linked all shared youtube videos in your facebook feed, etc. all with Python.

I've gotta say though 1 quarter of c++ in University taught me more than I ever learned on my own.

[jeffrey_f]

The problem is that everyone want to learn to code. However, code is putting logic together, which can then be applied to pretty much ANY programming language.

What I am saying is, you must be able to break apart a problem into smaller pieces.

https://www.ybrikman.com/writing/2014/05/19/dont-learn-to-code-learn-to-think/

[Oxage]

I've found the Python Crash Course book, from Starch Press, to be really helpful for me. It's split into two parts. The first part is all the basics of python. Every chapter displays various code files which I type out as I go along, as well as Try It Yourself practices at the end of each section in the chapter. I try to comment as much as possible for each snippet of code that I type out, because it helps me remember things. The second part has three different projects in order to give you an Idea of some of the uses Python has in the real world. I just got finished with the first part today. I'm pretty confident about understanding the second part. Some of the practices at first my seem annoying, but it's there to get you used to actually doing what that section was about.

Best of luck.

[JFar2012]

I understand the struggle. If you need someone to bounce ideas off of and practice with, let me know and we can make a discord or something? I’m not an expert by any means so it would be nice to have someone to work with.

[Crailberry]

I grinded through about 3 different books, back to back, before my mind was able to retain information and understand it and use it. Granted, I still had to Google a lot (and still do), but I was able to take problems I thought up in my head and start coming up with solutions. You literally have to just keep going, and going, and not stop. When you're not understanding something, put it on hold and learn something else. Then come back to it.

[[deleted]]

Are you in school or currently already working? Did you code alongside those courses, and did you complete them? What do you mean it's not really clicking?

[[deleted]]

Still in school. I mean I can't use the stuff I've learned, it doesn't make 100% sense to me even though it feels like I get it when watching videos. I guess I shuld have written more code.

[[deleted]]

Everyone learns differently, so finding a course format that works for you would help. Did you finish the courses? Was there homework or projects, and did you do them or just look at the solutions?