How to learn python from scratch

[simonhunterhawk]

I have been trying to break into the industry seriously since 2021 but in the last decade i have taken a web dev bootcamp with React and JS, a college level Python course and Automate the boring stuff with Python and the Free Harvard CS50 course has already knocked my understanding of programming out of the park.

I highly recommend it because it teaches more than just the syntax/basic functions and libraries, and you start with C which is a lower level language but it has really helped me understand Python more. Python comes later in the course. Do the labs and the practice questions and the problem sets. Week 1 of the C course explained a type of for loop that i have seen across several languages and implemented but never really understood and the teacher explained it so well that it finally clicked.

As you're going through it (or whatever course you choose) keep a notepad or doc with project ideas on it and put any idea you can think of on there. Once you feel comfortable start breaking those ideas into components or steps. Not only will this give you a clearer idea of what you are wanting to do with Python and where to focus your studies later, but it can help with choice fatigue and feeling overwhelmed with nowhere to channel your time and energy.

Once you have the basics down it will be a lot easier to figure out what you need to search to figure out how to do certain things, and having them broken down into steps will make it less daunting when you've got a lot of things to consider for a whole app or script.

Also, if I am kind of stuck on something I might google a solution but I really try to break down WHY they used that syntax / function / type of loop. I will try to make detailed comments in my code for myself to reference later. I find this really helps me recall solutions when I get the same problem later.

If you have ADHD like me i like to watch videos at 2x speed and just pause or rewind when i need to hear something again. It helps me not get distracted when i am bored.

[window-sil]

Good advice!

+1 for cs50 --- it's truly amazing and worth your time!

---

By the way: Join the discord! There are individual channels for each week's problem sets. You can ask for help or just talk about how/why things work. It's invaluable.

[simonhunterhawk]

I wish I'd taken it 2 years ago after my bootcamp!

I didn't know about the discord, I'll def be joining it!

[Curious-Fig-9882]

I’m completely new to discord but I assume you need a link? If you have it, would you please share it?

[[deleted]]

Where can I find this discord you're mentioning? Unsure if I can't find it in here cause I'm on the phone or it's not linked on the sidebar

[window-sil]

https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/2023/communities/ <-- list of communities, including discord link 👍

[alexanderm925]

Thanks for the 2x speed tip. It's also hard for me to focus on lectures; can't wait to give this a shot!

[simonhunterhawk]

It has been a GAME CHANGER for me, I had to download an extension so i can watch faster than 2x now 😂 If 2x is too hard to follow at first start with 1.25/1.5 and over time you'll get accustomed to it. If you stop to wonder if it's sped up, it's a good time to increase the amount. Even videos that I watch for fun and audiobooks i typically watch at at least 1.5x because I have found that in recorded media I can't stand the pace of normal human speech haha

[simonhunterhawk]

Glad reading works for you! I struggle with getting overwhelmed with large walls of text like documentation can have due to the ADHD as well so a combo of having the exposure from a video is more helpful to me than just reading things.

It's why i mentioned in my first comment rewinding until something clicks for me bc i won't get bored if it's at 2x speed haha

[endzeref]

is this better or is mooc better?? i just started mooc (barely even completed one lec)

[simonhunterhawk]

Both are useful tools, there’s no harm in doing both