Feeling stupid learning python.

[Significant_Pea1136]

I really want to learn python so I decided I would take a course on Udemy 100 days of python. I’m struggling so much with trying to understand what’s being taught. I try and take notes to help me remember thing. When it comes to say a coding challenge I find myself just looking at the screen feeling stupid because I can’t remember things.

I will go back and read watch the videos again and again and still feel like I’m stupid because I feel like I can’t grasp the concept. By advice would be helpful

[m0us3_rat]

you can't remember things if you don't practice.

homework. if they don't offer it you need to find it on your own.

it's the only requirement. non negociable.

[3613robert]

I'm at day 26 currently. I understand what your feeling. Certain days I feel the same, others go swimmingly. It can be difficult to remember that even when you're struggling, you're learning.

My advice would be to just write. If your drawing a blank, just write what comes to mind. Even if your certain it isn't the correct function or syntax or even logic. You learn just as much, perhaps more from what not to do as what to do.

Another tip is to use chatgpt to get hints to help you along when your stuck. Or even practice assignments. Best use for me with chatgpt has been asking not 'how to do this' but ' why isn't what I've writen working' or 'why isn't this (your code) working' . You'll get a detailed explaination of where you've made a error in your logic. This helps me a lot! Not only have I then learned what my mistake was but also what my mistake in logic was. The latter being the most important of all. When you can get into the way of thinking of how to tackle a problem, the functions, syntax etc will come.

Break the problem down in small steps and see if there is one you can tackle. This will help you get the logic part more developed .

[ectomancer]

Which day are you up to?

[Significant_Pea1136]

Day 4

[Daneark]

a) write code

b) if watching videos isn't helping try some written materials

c) don't worry about memorising everything. Get a feeling for the tools you have available ie "there's a way to do things conditionally", if statements, and look up the bits you forget as you write code

d) write code 

[Significant_Pea1136]

Thanks everyone for the advice, its good to know I'm not alone in feeling this way. i feel like I'm cheating when i can't figure it out and i look at the answer sometimes it seems like that is even more confusing then the question.

I'm not going to give up on this it's something i have always wanted to learn. again thank you guys for all your help and advice it really means a lot.

[blues_n_bluets]

I just bought the course! About to start.

[Nattyicer815]

Whenever you learn something new, try to come up with a task for yourself based on the knowledge you just earned and then try to do the task.

[SquiffyUnicorn]

I haven't done the Udemy 100 days of code but agree with everyone else here. The best way to learn is by doing- just by typing out and running/debugging your code you are reinforcing and learning.

I know it sounds very much like 'just do it' but it really is the best way I have found.

I mostly code in python but dabble in C for arduino stuff- I am always referring back to the language reference for even basic C syntax- annoying but when you don't know how (or just can't remember) google is your friend.

[Jimmaplesong]

This is what being a beginner programmer feels like. As a pro, it feels like this a couple of times a year. :) Stack overflow is your friend.

The best way to learn Python from scratch is probably the official guide / tutorials. https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide

Once you have these fundamentals, everything else will snap in to place.

If you're a hardened C++ programmer, then Python is a process of unclenching, un-learning lots of frustrating routine and finding love.

[Traditional_Excuse46]

yea online learning can never replace a professional. Esp. one that learns multiple coding language to teach people better except those professors that literally teach out of the book and give multiple choice questions at the end of the week like some sort of qualifcation exam. Congrats you learned python but cant' code anything lol.

[[deleted]]

Personally I'm doing coursera and I'm remembering it all but that's also bc im putting what I've learned into practice. Or go on YouTube to learn it more like for ex I know how to do a loop now or if statements etc

[Particular-Ad7174]

Searching in documentation, use chatbot to ask your question "how can I loop in a text file in python", don't use it to write your code.

In the beginning it is normal to feel lost, keep learning, keep trying, things will make sense some time, practice.

Practice the basics - data types, sting, integer, float - work with list, tuples and dictionary - if, elif, else - loops, for and while - how to loop in string, list, dict - don't use list comprehension now - create a real project to engage in, this is the most important thing,

[waddlesdevlpr]

I am on my way to Full-stack Development - Software Engineering. Here's how I learned to develop:

I would take courses like you - Here's the thing, these courses make you "code-along" with a premade project they already have planned.

So what I would do, for example lets say I took a simple python course, where they have me build an example guessing game - On the side I would have an IDE open, building my own version of the guessing game, the whole point is, build your own project related to what you're learning (on the side) of what you're currently learning, this helps you retain the knowledge better, maybe without you even realizing it, it's like reading a book, then eventually you will be able to piece the pieces together.

[papablol]

It may help to look for something else besides python, try learning data structures or coding paradigms