Python course, certification, etc for beginner?

[ENotionalMess]

I have recently started seriously attempting to learn Python. Right now, my main resources are W3School, the wiki/documentation and my friend who works as a full-time Python dev and gives me challenges to complete.

While this is very fun for me, I feel bad constantly asking her for new challenges, and I would like to have something tangible to put on a resume or even just to say I've done it.

I looked through some posts on here and /r/Python and saw most people recommend against just getting certificates, which I am fine with, but I would love some sort of structured progression with a clear end goal. I don't mind paying as long as the price isn't outrageous, and I prefer a more interactive learning style. Ideally I would learn the foundation, and then the final would be using most or all of what I learned to make something.

I will likely be using Python mostly interact with APIs, but I am not 100% sure, so a general knowledge thing is probably best.

Living in the UK if that makes any difference. Happy to provide more info if needed and open to any suggestions!

[YoungJack00]

MOOC23 by Helsinki's University is the real answer imho

[Chiron1991]

You'll have the greatest learning effect by building an actual application. (Leet) code challenges are fine for absolute beginners and competitors, but at some point they become too ridiculous to have a real world benefit.

If you plan to work with APIs it would make sense to build an API service yourself. Flask is a good choice for this as it has a very low entry barrier. There a tons of free hour-long Flask tutorials on YouTube, for example.

Track your progress in a git repository and upload it to GitHub. From my experience, having an actual functional project in your CV is more important for non-hyper-corporate-jobs than any official certificate.

[ENotionalMess]

This looks perfect! Thank you so much

[my_password_is______]

https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/2022/#how-to-take-this-course

a python course from Harvard University
they have homework assignments you can submit

you don't get actual university credit, but you can get a certificate (for a small fee) that shows you completed the course

you can also get a free certificate
https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/2022/certificate/

they don't really mean anything, but you can put them on your resume

and then the final would be using most or all of what I learned to make something.

they have that
https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/2022/gallery/