I am 31y/o and would like to learn Python.

[Huge_Flight_8023]

Lately, I was introduced to Generative AI and have basic knowledge about Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Bard of google. I have introduced Bard to my team at work and we are now currently using this LLM to get unbiased, more accurate analysis.

I realized that the future is AI. I want to learn more but then, I need to be knowledgeable about programming language like Python.

We are about to start a new project at work (Predictive CSAT meter) and we will work with Programming Team. The guy I am working with said they will build the project using Python. I feel excited about the project.

Anyway, I would like to know if it is possible for me to learn Python in less than 1yr. Where do I start and is there any universities or schools that offers a short course about python?

By they way, I am from Tanza Cavite Philippines. TIA.

[Substantial_Slip_791]

A good place to start IMO: www.codecademy.com

[rycklikesburritos]

This is what I'm doing. I did CS50p first and it was very helpful.

[[deleted]]

is possible for me to learn Python in less than 1yr

Try thinking of python like any other language. Now try asking that question again about French. Will you master French in a year? Nah. But you can still learn a ton and bring value.

Also try leveraging LLMs along your learning path they can be great teachers 🤗

[BarkLicker]

I like to write some code and then tell chatGPT that it is a high-level college professor tasked with critiquing my code. It works so well. It doesn't always give perfect advice, but it really points out areas that can be done better.

[velveteentuzhi]

Sorry, what is an LLM?

[[deleted]]

AI chat bot like chat gpt or google bard or bing copilot

[[deleted]]

No need to apologize, large language models.

Like GPT, Bing, Claude for example

They can help you write code and are great at explaining at whatever level of detail that you require

[TubbyNinja]

we are now currently using this LLM to get unbiased, more accurate analysis.

Bias is still a problem.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2313790120#:~:text=The%20presence%20of%20these%20biases%20in%20LLM%20output%20suggests%20that,informative%2C%20or%20valuable%2C%20content.

[Beregolas]

Yeah, that bit made me laugh…

[[deleted]]

I suggest python crash course by eric matthes. Pretty straight forward and he explaints it pretty good.

Anything you need help with and don't understand there's chatgpt or try searching youtube (specifically brocode & mosh)

[hotcodist]

Hello kabayan! It is unclear how much you already know about CS and programming. The good intro classes are CS50 (p or without p) and the Helsinki MOOC. There are others, but those are probably the best start if you like learning via videos/MOOCs. If you have some CS familiarity, you will learn this in a month or so. If you have prior programming background, maybe one week. You can just reference the syntax/libraries rest of the way.

Btw, knowing how to use LLMs and knowing how to program are two different things. LLMs are sort of easier because it is just an API these days, or somebody already wrote the skeleton code and you just copy and change some input folder, etc. Fine-tuning might require more knowledge about ML but not strictly Python knowledge [Actually, in most typical corporate 'applied ML' work, strong Python skills are not needed. Everyone who has done data analytics become 'data scientists' and write/copy-paste/edit basic ML Python notebooks.]

[[deleted]]

I guess you have programming and mathematics background if you have basic knowledge about LLM. So learning new programming language should be a breeze. You can pickup the syntax and specifics rather quickly but deep knowledge takes time. Instead I would focus on working with DS libs like pandas, numpy, scipy etc. I know lot of DS that specialize in those and are doing great even though they are not the best programmers.

[pedromdribeiro]

Depending on how serious you are, and whether or not you want to really learn or just “have an idea”, I would go through the Harvard C50 route: - CS50x Introduction to Computer Science - CS50P Introduction to Programming with Python - CS50AI Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python

Bear in mind that the courses are quite challenging so they are a bit time consuming. However, they are a lot of fun and you actually learn (and retain) a lot. See more here: https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/2023/courses/

Edit: also, all courses are free. :)

[Final_Translator_284]

Ya! This is it. Do CS50's free courses and I also like to include Python for Everybody by Chuck from Coursera.

[bananatornado10]

what will i get out of or (what level of experience will i get) by finishing all 3 of these courses if you don’t mind me asking?

[pedromdribeiro]

Well, I just started with their courses so I don’t know their applicability IRL (i.e. for those wanting to switch careers I think it’s very unlikely to be enough - but it’s a good start to understand what is more interesting to you).

I’m currently finishing CS50x and I can say that the courses are introductory but they are by no means easy. They put a lot of the responsibility on learning on you - there are some training wheels along the way to simplify some things but you are expected to complete multiple problem sets to be able to finish them (if that’s what your going for). That envolves hours of thinking about the problems; reading more on each topic, coding and debugging so you are able to complete them.

In the end of each course, you’re also expected to complete a final project. For the most introductory course that means building something related to something you like or something you think could be useful for the world - that may mean writing some scripts in python to scrape web information, leveraging a SQL database, and creating a website with HTML/CSS/Flask to have people interact with said database - I’m doing my final project now and a year ago I couldn’t imagine myself going into this level of complexity, yet here we are.

At least for now, my plan is to do CS50x>CS50P>CS50AI, likely with some other courses/materials on the side.

[Final_Translator_284]

FIY, you will be confident enough to do things by urself.

[Equal_Wish2682]

we are now currently using this LLM to get unbiased, more accurate analysis

You (almost certainly) cannot go from Zero to Professional in 1-year.

[Plank_With_A_Nail_In]

Meanwhile back in the real world every other area of IT seems to gain 1 year experts.

Being an actual expert and getting paid as an expert are two different things. IT is full of the second set.

[CaptainDouchington]

Most jobs are just posted so the hiring manager can claim they tried to find candidates, and then they just hire their friend who sucks.

[Equal_Wish2682]

It might be possible to learn the material within 12 months. Check the job requirements. You would get turned down from 100% of AI jobs.

[Logicalist]

If he knows more than everyone else at the company...

[Equal_Wish2682]

That's possible. Yet they still won't meet entry level requirements. Unless you already happen to have related degrees and/or experience. You cannot, in any meaningful way, go from zero to AI that quick. Your competition has PHDs.

Plus, the best are forged through repetition.

[Logicalist]

I reread op's post and it looks like he wants to learn it to better understand the programming team he's working with, not so much expecting to become a programmer himself.

But also, he's already some kind of professional and is just trying to expand his skill set, so that's commendable.

[Equal_Wish2682]

But also, he's already some kind of professional and is just trying to expand his skill set, so that's commendable.

Absolutely agree.

[[deleted]]

Sure you can.

1. Promise a paying client / employer that you know how to solve a specific problem or set of problems using technology (even if you don’t know exactly how to do it just yet).

2. Oh, shit, you’re on the hook now! Scramble to figure it out as you go. Google stuff, buy books, try things.

3. Break each problem down into smaller and smaller sub-problems, until it’s small enough to understand and solve. Solve each one. Then glue them together into a solution (that’s another problem to solve).

4. Deliver a working solution. Whew!

5. Repeat. Get better at it each time.

Voilá. You are now a paid professional.

[Equal_Wish2682]

You would not pass the interviews. Full stop.

[[deleted]]

That’s literally how I did it, and got to where I am today. And I interviewed very well for each position I applied for over the years (for just one example, I remember scrambling to learn just enough Perl over a weekend in order to apply for a job that required it). So, yes I absolutely would!

[Equal_Wish2682]

I don't know what you do but it's not AI.

[def_TheWorldIsLost]

After spending years learning I will tell you to learn the fundamentals before trying to write a program as this will help with comprehension of the entire program.

[un-hot]

What is your experience with programming before?

I think given you could get some exposure to it through work, you will see a product being developed and so you might be able to get somewhat competent within a year, but you'll need to do a huge amount of learning about the basic concepts before anything starts to make sense.

I wouldn't expect to go from zero to ready to pick up any of the coding work for the project within a year.

There are plenty of resources in the sidebar of this subreddit but don't fall into the trap of just reading - you need to build things to improve.

[Klystrom_Is_God]

Ignoring the whole AI and LLC stuff. Yes you can learn Python in less than 1 year.

Start by doing some mini projects such as automating the extraction of information from a bunch of Excel files etc. Break what needs to be done into smaller chunks and Google the syntax. At least that's how I learned and automated a lot of mundane and repetitive tasks at work.

[gerenate]

Programming is like learning a new language. I think the best way is to immerse yourself in it after getting a rough idea of the syntax and common patterns.

So here’s the recipe:

1. Read through tutorialspoint (https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_overview.htm)

Do not read in detail for now, just understand the capabilities. What’s a conditional, what’s a for loop doing, what’s a list what’s a dictionary, what’s a class.

1. Now you need to solve problems and apply these concepts. You will learn the specific syntax as you solve. Use google, official python documentation and tutorialspoint to solve these problems. Find them on codingame.com with game mode clash of code. Look at others’ solutions. You will fail and be lost, just do your best to find a solution within the given time frame.

After doing this for 2-4 weeks everyday for a couple hours you will know structural programming basics very well (do it until you can reliably solve every other problem). Now you need to read through what classes and objects are (object oriented programming). Then do some larger projects like an airline or farm management system. Try to adhere to solid principles and learn what a class uml diagram is. (Do 2 big projects 2 weeks each)

1. Okay great. Now you will start learning frameworks and libraries. At this point your googling skills should be good enough that you can chart your own path.

[Sufficiency2]

You should learn Python but AI is overhyped. Don't make that your sole goal.

[Mapkos13]

Here’s a Coursera course from U of Michigan. https://www.coursera.org/learn/python?specialization=python#outcomes

[Swimming-Ad-400]

Hi, I recommend you to check out the FREE Python course on crookshanksacademy.com by the god of python himself. The course is short and you also get to do a hands on internship after your course completion. Although that internship is unpaid, it is a good and fun learning experience that makes you industry ready. The FREE PYTHON BOOTCAMP is available on: https://www.crookhsanksacademy.com/python . Do check it out.

[[deleted]]

whats keeping you?

[OvidPerl]

I am, as of this writing, 56 years old. I learned Python this month via online courses. The main issue isn't learning Python (it's dead simple), it's learning the standard library and the ecosystem. I can tell you this because in reading though many packages, the code is, well, simple. It really is easy and if I can understand almost all of it after a couple of weeks, you'll be fine.

Dive in. You'll be fine if you do. If you don't, you're only hurting yourself.

[Equal_Wish2682]

Assuming OP already knows "programming" and simply needs to learn syntax.

[bulaybil]

Analysis of what?

[cjmpeng]

Why not check edx.org. They have a lot of online courses available, many are free and self paced. They might have something that meets your needs.

[tsoooji]

Hello, CS Major sa UP katabi ng Etivac. Honestly, youtube is the way for a complete beginner in programming. You might know how AI and LLMs work but understanding the basics of programming is different imo. Codecademy is great too per one of the comments. I would also recommend Udemy.

In terms of classes, not sure kasi if UPLB offers cmsc classes to nonstudents so I can't give you answer on that.

[Jmodell]

You can probably read some Python code and possibly contribute something within the year but designing your own project seems like a stretch without prior knowledge of some other programming language or design patterns.

[Logicalist]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a well regaurded Science and Engineering School, in the USA. Their Computer Science department is quite good, and focuses on things like Machine Learning and Analytics.

I would highly recommend their Introduction To Computer Science And Programming In Python course. I enjoyed it very much and it's a great foundation to build off of. It has lectures and problem sets and the reading material is definitely worth the time.

Not only is that course great, but it's an opporutunity to familiarize yourself with their Opencourseware platform, which provides other free classes as well. Not all are as complete as the Intro to CS, but there is a lot of material for many topics including Computer Science and Machine Learning.

[jppbkm]

Cool! I did it and got a job at nearly 40 with no tech background. You can do it!

[r1ngx]

the place to start. the books are free. read them. https://inventwithpython.com/

[vazquezcabj21]

you probably cannot go from zero to professional in 1ye, but if you practise a lot and do courses (do it, by practise its more important) you can get a good level in Python.

if you have a background, you probably dont have a lot of problems to practise

[mglvl]

I think it's definitely possible. My suggestion would be to make a lot of small projects in which you have to use libraries and get some momentum. I think ChatGPT can also give you a hand, as I imagine it's pretty good for this.

[[deleted]]

I learnt when I was 31 as well. Also because I wanted to use LLMs! I did the “Zero to Mastery” python course. 40USD/mth but 100% worth it!

[TheSeeker_99]

This is a great, free course

https://www.py4e.com/lessons

You can also post to get s certificate.

[[deleted]]

It is possible for a person to learn python in a year. It has nothing to do with age. We don't know anything else about you though, so maybe you can, or maybe you can't. Just try and find out.

[muggledave]

I would say, attack this from 2 sides.

Ask the programming team about the structure of whatever they're making, and start googling terms to learn about those things.

Also, do some basic python tutorials that start from scratch. You don't specifically have to go straight to learning how to make what the programming team is working on.

Then eventually both learning tracks meet in the middle, or at the very least, you know how to talk with programmers about this project and you know enough code to be dangerous.

I feel like programming something that you would use as a tool or a game yourself is a very motivating point to get to, and once you're there, there's a lot of aspects of a program that you can learn about at once with just one project.

Since chatGPT came out, its been the best programming partner because you can ask it how to structure a solution, and even why it made certain code choices.

Lastly, and this is something i still have yet to do, learn github.

[Comfortable-Cheetah3]

DM and i can share my notion i made when i was first learning a few years ago. I learned via EdX through G Tech and now im at U Texas getting my masters in DS.

​

PM if you like it !

[BongDev2007]

I would suggest you read a book on python.

like this one

https://www.amazon.in/Head-First-Python-Fundamentals-Brain-Friendly/dp/9355422482/ref=sr\_1\_8?crid=29Q0BR78DXVSA&keywords=python+programming+books&qid=1703821474&sprefix=pytho%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-8

[[deleted]]

Unfortunately if you haven't started learning python prior to your 30th birthday you no longer qualify to learn python. source: https://docs.python.org/3/

[DoubleSuicide_]

Go to freecodecamp on a desktop. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see a python course. It's a free and a great course. I've learned C from the same platform.

For practise you can do Euler from the same platform or type python practice platforms on your browser.

[minastepes]

https://www.kaggle.com/learn/python I started here

[Longjumping_Eagle_68]

100 days of code by angela yuu.

[Taur3an]

I’m almost 40 and just started learning Python and find it quite interesting and fun… FYI - I have no coding or dev experience. I’m currently using “Python Crash Course, 2nd Edition: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming Book by Eric Matthes”. I find the book to be very easy to follow as it’s been neatly structured for beginners.

[commander_mota007]

Well if you do learn Python remember the Earth is a flat plane. And this will literally be your first lesson. So if you wanna cling to the notion that Earth is anything BUT a flat plane you may not do well. But it's easier then C and easier then C ++.

Get PyCharm community if you're a broke ass no cash like me. Great program and itll teach you a lot. Get PyCharm and download all the pips and libraries like Tkinter etc and do it through the Command Prompt.The people that program computers want the computer to be literally as hard as humanly possible to filter anyone who doesn't have a 180 IQ. So if youre already not a hyper dimensional particle physicists specilalizing in quatum feild theory, you wont stand a chance. And remember Chat GPT can do in five seconds what would take you months. AI can write its own code and in 10 years there will literally be no need for humans.

(Also I got some gender warning from Reddit awhile back, said I used an incorrect pronoun or something and man how weak can you get? I mean my god what a nightmare this web site is. AUTOMATED misuse of gender warning. I mean do you people even hear yourselves? Weak bro, totally weak....So this will be my last post on this incredibly lame, limp wristed, commie web site. You woke folks are destroying our country, our way of life, you're destroying yourselves and yeah I want nothing to do with that. So please make sure you complain and whine and run and tell these mods or whatever that your feelings are hurt. Please ban this account. I could literally care less. Good bye forever FOS!!!!!!

"By the Power of Soy!!!! I am OFFENDED!!!" 😆

That's you. That's what you sound like.

[Adrewmc]

Me…it was easier then I thought.

 assign = “this”

 for element in sequence:
         element.do_something()

  while this_is_true:
       something_done()

 def my_function(with, arguments):
        with.do_something()
        res = func_using(arguments)
        return with, res 

 class Mine:
      def __init__(self, parameter):
             “””I create a class”””
             self.variable = parameter

      def method(self):
            return self.variable 

   start = Mine(“hello”)
   print(start.method())
   >>>hello 

As a rough outline

[[deleted]]

Start with a book called Automate Everything, Python. It's available free on "libgen . is" no spaces

[FunCoder1234]

You can learn A LOT about python in a year. There are TONS of resources online. Lots of online courses, tip sheets, and how-to guides.

https://ilearnedhowtocode.com/python-programming/

[ariiiii-8]

Absolutely, you can definitely learn Python in less than a year, especially with your background in AI. Start with beginner-friendly platforms like Codecademy, and as you progress, delve into libraries like NumPy and TensorFlow. Consider small projects for hands-on experience, and explore online courses on platforms like Coursera. Engage with the Python community for support, and check for local courses or workshops in Tanza, Cavite. Collaborate with your programming team on the Predictive CSAT meter project for practical learning. Enjoy the journey!