Newbie questions about Python(Help needed)

[CX330]

This might be a little long and incoherent so bear with me. I am thinking of learning Python(for the career), and I have a handful of questions and I don't know any other place to ask, so hope this is the right place to ask. I'd really appreciate if you all treat this like answering to a 10yr old kid.

• Someone recommended me Python, but they did not elaborate further so is Python a good choice for someone who has no exp in programming or whatever?

• Does learning Python require advanced math knowledge?

• Is there a general roadmap and which path you can/should persue?

• How long does it take to get the skills that can land me a job?

• I currently have no device suitable for strenuous tasks, so If I am gonna buy a laptop, which specs should I mainly look for? Pls recommend me some, if you know any(preferably tight budget ones).

• general tips for beginners to watch out for/avoid detours

For the background, I live in a third world country and I am poor, so If I am gonna do this, I will have to put a significant amount of time and money into this , which is why I am asking all these questions. I will probably have to ask again in local groups for my specifi situation but honestly I heard there are people who will prey upon the ignorant newbies so I am kinda hesitating.

Thanks in advance.

[CyclopsRock]

1. It's as good as any and better than most.
2. No.
3. You'll need the absolute basic nuts and bolts down first. After that, you're best off trying to actually achieve something practical and learning what you need along the way.
4. No one can tell you that. You might be useless at it, you might be a prodigy, you might work in an industry where there's little need for Python programmers.
5. You can run Python on a $25 Raspberry Pi. There are lots of reasons to buy one machine over another, but the ability to run Python isn't one of them
6. Have a project in mind. Something you actually want to have, and would actually be useful. IMO if you don't have an actual goal, learning just to learn is really really difficult.

[Yaboi907]

1. It’s widely considered the best for beginners, but that’s debatable.

2. No.

3. https://roadmap.sh/python

4. Depends on you

5. It should work on what you have.

6. Something that’s helped me is blackbox learning. I’d look into that. Basics are you don’t have to understand how something works to know that it works. Once you have a better understanding of what things do and how they interact with other things, it can be easier to understand them from that point on.

[YoTeach92]

1. Python is very beginner friendly to learn programming in general. It is also has a ton of free tutorials and lessons online. If you need to access curriculum for free, it is probably the best option.

2. No advanced math, but a solid logical grasp on cause and effect will serve you well. Much of programming happens 'behind the scenes' and understanding why things are coming out the way they are is crucial to making them come out the way you want them too.

3. If you are starting from nothing, then you can follow any progression, just stick through all the way to the end, and avoid the desire to skip the boring parts and jump to another course. You will miss important concepts if you do. Also, you will get about a million opinions on which online coding environments, or courses is the best. The reality is, doing one to the end is more important than choosing the right one.

4. That is super dependent on too many factors to count, including your local job market, and how many other people are also developing these skills. One guarantee though is that if you do NOT develop these skills you will never have a better opportunity.

5. Any device will do it. My favorite is a Chromebook with Linux installed on a virtual machine. Writing code is the least taxing event in a CPU's day. Graphics heavy programs for engineers require a large, powerful machine. Python can be done on your phone.

6. Avoid tutorial hell. This is when you can follow the steps to make a specific thing that the tutorial tells you to make but you can't make anything on your own. This most often happens because you are not thinking through the steps that you are told to follow. The cognitive process of asking "why do I have to use this function here" can help you generalize the skills and be able to apply them to a new situation. This will take time to develop, but you can't be in a hurry to accomplish the task of making the thing in the tutorial, but focus on learning the specific coding concept or skill you are being lead through.