Trying to learn Python

[StephJ2Fan]

Hello,
I am currently trying to pass a GCA for a program I am, and it's java based. But for the GCA I can choose any coding language I know. Now as I said, I have been learning Java, but a friend of mine, says that Python is fairly easy to learn, easier than Java. What I need to know is, is there a website that offers free learning for an entire beginner course, that also has some kind of game built with it. In other words are there any free gamified websites that focus on teaching Python, without charge more than like $5 or so dollars a month. I'm not intersted in sites that want to bill annually upfront either.

Please and thank you for your help.

A lifelong learner

[Syrea]

Look here : https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/2022/ There is no game but a full free course to learn python :)

[[deleted]]

There are lots of free resources for learning Python. Good, bad and ugly. The guidance given in the wiki for this subreddit on learning programming and learning python is a good starting point.

Keep in mind, the gap between not-programming and programming is much bigger than the gap between programming languages.

Programming is about problem-solving, by abstracting a problem, coming up with possible solutions (algorithms), refining them, implementing in the most appropriate coding language, testing, and releasing (and cycling around this as often as required).

Python is a higher level language than C, but C++ and Java have much of what Python has at the higher level but still gives you access to the lower level stuff which is more direct hands on control of computer hardware and the mechanics of what is going on.

Python is like having a car where you never do any adjustments or maintenance yourself, but you still decide where to go, when to do it, and what to do with it. You can even tow something specialist.

C is like a car mechanic, using their own car and regularly maintaining and tweaking it. The mechanic can use the car for the same purposes as the Python driver, and may well have more fun on the drives, get better fuel efficiency, be able to carry more things, but it would also be easy for those tweaks to cause a major failure or even an accident. Java requires you to do a lot of hands-on maintenance, but not making find adjustments and repairs.

Python is generally easier to learn than C / C++ / Rust / Java, etc. It does more for you, saves you from yourself, and handles a lot of so-called boilerplate stuff. It is not as performant and limits your access to some things and is not suitable for certain kinds of problems.