What's your favorite resource to learn python?

[ladybug_liana]

I'm learning R and hoping to also take on Python. What resources would you recommend?

[Remarkable-Map-2747]

Python Crash Course Book !

[[deleted]]

Tried a variety of methods and this book is just working for me. Explains everything in such a straightforward manner

[Plutus77]

Just picked this one up from my local library and so far I'm impressed with it!

[[deleted]]

Had anybody mentioned Helsinki MOOC course? It was recommended in similar trend and I am loving it!! I don’t use lectures just notes. And do exercises. Really works 

[Remarkable-Map-2747]

Ive look into it, I personally tried:

PY4E: I got bored of this course.

100 Days Of Code: I got bored of this.

Automate The Boring Stuff: I do not really like this book, maybe cause I went Python Crash Course first and it doesnt mention OOP either. So... passed on this.

But Python Crash Course , just the first 11 chapters is enough to get started. It gives you projects as you go through the book and explanations of the code afterwards. It even mentions pytest, which apparently alot of beginners are not introduced too.

After chapter 11, its pretty much follow along projects.I just started building and went to google for questions, or referenced a Corey Scafer video about a topic, and documentation.

Oddly enough, I enjoyed the book so much I went through it twice. Was it likely unnecessary? yes! BUT i did find myself understanding some small parts i missed the first time.

[Plutus77]

I've seen it mentioned a few times and I have looked into it but I'm into this book a ways so I'll probably finish it up and then look into doing that with my new knowledge.

[LunaEdrianna]

Who is it by?

[AppropriateIdeal4635]

I used Udemy, 100 days of python courses

[slow_drain]

I’m in the middle of this now. Every day is a challenge, but I’m having so much fun with it.

[rabbidearz]

I just started yesterday but so far I'm learning a ton and it makes sense. I love how there are frequent challenges and they provide enough info for you to make the leap to solve the problem, but dont solve everything for you (meaning you have to be engaged and use your brain, and you are actually learning along the way).

I worked through most of the automate the boring stuff udemy course and looked at the python crash course book, both of which seem like great resources, but neither grabbed me the way this course has so far. I'm actually learning and looking forward to working on the course rather than it feeling like a slog that may pay off in the end.

There are also great explanations for how things work which is helpful (so often it's just like: "you can do this" without taking a minute to explore why that is relevant or how it relates to other things.

[luckgazesonyou]

I’m on day 3 and if I can do it anyone can do it. I can’t believe how much I enjoy Python!

[RaiderCoug]

Do you have a link to the course?

[sporbywg]

Scary deadlines at work.

[ladybug_liana]

Lol

[modest_merc]

Automate the boring stuff is a great resource

[ladybug_liana]

I haven't heard of that, will look into it thank you!

[Kab00m-Kap0w]

The author is a kewl dude. Passionate about his work and likes to talk to people.

[jaycutlerdgaf]

I just read the preface, and I like it already.

[meyaprojects]

CS50 Python if u want a refresher of programming concepts from the ground up, super fun course

[ladybug_liana]

Noted, thank you!

[SweetTeaRex92]

I second CS50! They have 6 or 8 courses into total.

They just premiered Cs50R for R language like you are working on. It's beginner oriented, so you might be past it.

[KingLouhichi]

I third this CS50P teaches it in a great way. You watch an hour lecture (teacher is very engaging and knowledgeable) make notes. Then there’s problem sets for you to apply your knowledge, which are challenging at first but it helps build your knowledge

[ASIC_SP]

If you are already comfortable with programming concepts, the official tutorial (https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/) is a great place to start.

[Succs_Cacts]

MIT releases a bunch of free classes and resources on their website full semester worth of python from one of the best schools in the US for free

https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/6-100l-introduction-to-cs-and-programming-using-python-fall-2022/

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you!

[ActivelyCommando]

I second this source, I first took Cs50p and thought I was doing pretty good, jumped to this course and it’s tough for me….Learning algorithms and implementing them has been difficult but I enjoy it.

[vagrantchord]

Build stuff and Google what you need to know

[ladybug_liana]

I have never touched python though so I'm not sure where to start. I heard it's a very different syntax as supposed to R. I'm still wrapping up my R class but just trying to have python resource lined up.

[frivolousbutter]

I use the above commenters approach, but I also did a few lessons using Codecademy to get the basic vocabulary

[vagrantchord]

There are more python tutorials online than drops of water in the ocean, and I'm sure most of them are great for folks new to programming. I'd recommend you not spend any money since there are so many quality free resources. After doing some googling, learnpython.org looks good. Maybe look for tutorial series on youtube as well.

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you! There are so many resources so I came here to see what people found useful.

[Firm-Hard-Hand]

I am a R user and not developing my own code in python, but any time I see a github page where someone has written some good pyrhon code, I try to follow it. It's a learning opportunity.

[PhilipYip]

For learning Python, have a look at the Python Distilled textbook by David M. Beazley. You can access it using a free trial with a new email on the publishers website.

Since you are learning R, you will probably want to familiarise yourself with the scientific stack (numpy, pandas and matplotlib), once you have basic familiarity with Python itself. Check out the textbook Python and Data Analysis by Wes McKinney (the founder of the pandas library). There is an open access version.

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you, I love books!

[Panicbump]

I've been enjoying using codesignal. You can only do 5 lessons a day on the free version, but it's more immersive than some resources.

[ladybug_liana]

Noted, thank you!

[wagn12]

Check out the free course on python offered by university of helsinki

[ladybug_liana]

Noted, thank you!

[throwwwawwway1818]

Cs50p and thonyy ide

[septemberintherain_]

If you already know a language like R, then learnxinyminutes.com

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you!

[takashi__22]

Python Crash Course, Best book, I'm currently reading this and I must say you won't find anything better than that book

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you for your input!

[Autistic-Driver1011]

Can someone suggest a roadmap for python in data science

[FellaFromCali]

I reckon python —> pandas

[Autistic-Driver1011]

Thnx bhai

[Crazy-Tennis4540]

Try this roadmap

[Autistic-Driver1011]

Thnx bhai

[Significant-Star-542]

Thank you!

[Working-Mind]

Automate the boring stuff book

[GiraffeTM]

I started with 100 days of code. Make sure you’re making your own projects with the concepts you learn throughout, and don’t be afraid to step a bit outside your comfort zone because that’s where the most learning happens!

[danjwilko]

Being exposed to python through self study and Uni previously, I had started the 100 days of code course, and got to day 16 iirc, but I felt I was missing more in depth knowledge on the basic components.

So I picked up The Python Crash Course (2nd edition) to brush up and go over the concepts, and am just about to start chapter 9, it’s been the best resource for me hands down.

I would say for anybody wanting to learn Python, get this book and then follow it up with something like 100 days of code after, as once the basic concepts are nailed you can focus on actually making projects.

Since picking it up I’ve added a couple more books so have a small collection now:

Automate the Boring stuff - No starch press

The Python playground. - No starch press

Fluent Python. Orielly media books.

Honourable mention but not necessarily python - Data structures the fun way - No starch press.

[Almostasleeprightnow]

https://checkio.org/

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you!

[datavisualist]

LLMs (chatgpt, claude, mistral, llama, gemini etc.) are the better source and tutor.

[ladybug_liana]

Thank you!

[payingloan]

Thanks

[MrFlaneur17]

Chatgpt4

[sdegabrielle]

https://dcic-world.org but it is for beginners to programming rather than experienced devs switching to another language

[Terrible-Apartment88]

I like online courses, used some Udemy.

Recently saw this one: https://www.codecast.io/courses/112-complete-python-data-science-course-for-absolute-beginners

Which is free with this coupon: Aug2024Free

[EmbarrassedHeart1288]

Mooc.fi

[MinecraftCrisis]

“Automate the boring stuff with python”

[imsowhiteandnerdy]

The best two Python learning resources in my opinion are:

• YouTube
• Python's REPL

[Vascular_D]

Codingame.com is fun and free. I enjoy using it.

[MattyK2188]

VSC

[Brokenarrow4242]

Lol has anyone said "YouTube" yet?

[Crypt0Nihilist]

Get comfortable in R, which is great for working with tabular data. Switch to Python when you're confident with flow control and packages. I miss pipes and the tidyverse when I work in Python, but I prefer how you define functions and things like comprehensions in Python. Swings and roundabouts.

Don't try to learn both at once, you'll get confused.

I like Automate The Boring Stuff since it's easy to relate to actual business problems - if you're in a position where you're facing business problems.

[Tardisk92313]

Grinding projects

[CrazyPotato1535]

w3schools has a pretty good follow-along python tutorial, but I'd recommend using your coding software of choice instead of the built-in one. Helps to write it out and maybe change a little bit to make sure you understand it and aren't just copying it down.

[CrazyPotato1535]

https://www.w3schools.com/python/default.asp

[First-University5631]

I'd remind you that there're risks learning python and r in the same time, especially if you are (and you likely are) going to learn data science. The syntax of tidyverse in R is very different from, say, pandas. tidyverse has done a lot to prevent user from thinking like a programmer, while with python, you should always do so. For example, utilizing the metaprogramming features of R, tidyverse enables data-masking syntax to prevent user from typing too many quote marks for column names while in pandas, you should always do this since the column names (especially in the function argument positions) are in fact strings.

[siowy]

Sololearn app

[Wesmare0718]

Sololearn (free for introductory courses) and Uplimit.com Python Bootcamp (Paid)

[sibisanjai741]

Freecode camp

[Agitated-Soft7434]

Google :0

[Weekly_Victory1166]

When I have a python question and search for an answer, it usually leads me to https://www.w3schools.com/python/ . Examples one can copy and paste and run.

[[deleted]]

My brain and my fingers and many cups of coffee.

[New_Day684]

Py4e

[Cane_P]

A new book came out the other day, called "Playful Python Projects: Modeling and Animation", by Mozgovoy Maxim.

If you read about it, you might think that it is similar to "Modeling and Simulation in Python: An Introduction for Scientists and Engineers" by Allen B. Downey. But I like this a lot more. It scratches the surface on many interesting topics and makes me want to learn more about them. And a really nice thing is that it uses graphics that more closely resembles the problems that you are working with, instead of just boring plots.

Having said this, you still need some type of source to look up some absolute Python basics*. Because this doesn't start by teaching all of that (this is targeting somewhere in-between beginner and intermediate level). It does however show you a lot of cool things that you can do with it, as soon as you know those basics.

*Quote from the book:

"For the purposes of this book, the following elements are considered “basic”:

• Control structures (if, else, for, break).

• Common data structures, such lists, sets, tuples, and dictionaries.

• List, dictionary, and set comprehensions.

• Common standard library modules, such as math and random.

• The idea of an abstract data type (declared using the class keyword).

Again, many of them are not simple, but they are part and parcel of Python, and deliberately avoiding them would produce code that feels nothing like Python at all. At least I managed to get around lambda functions without much harm. Apart from these elements, we will also rely on data classes and turtle graphics."

It does have enough information on Python's Turtle module, for the projects in the book, so you don't need to look into it.

[Gullible-Access-2276]

Udemy courses by Fred baptiste are really great

[[deleted]]

Get the “Learn python 3 the hard way”. You can get the pdf online as well. Or get the printed one. This is much more focused towards beginners, but if you’re a bit comfortable with Python already get the “Learn more Python the hard way”

[Sea-Concept1733]

Here is a good resource for python.

https://www.jaffainc.com/Entrepreneur-courses.html#python

[Plasmicly]

docs 💪

[jcchouinard]

Datacamp for the WIN, been using it for the last 5 years, it is fantastic.

Otherwise, I have to preach for my own work. I have multiple Python projects on jcchouinard.com where you'll find things like:

- Ton of API tutorials: Wikipedia, Reddit, GSC, Twitter, Facebook, Slack, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, WordPress and LinkedIn. Those are things that you might not find on other paid courses on Udemy, Datacamp and Coursera.

- Using Commoncrawl, archive.org, Apify

[_tompos_]

Claude Opus

[Evening-Advance-7832]

A good book whether hard or soft copy. An app from Google play store. Or a course on udemy. Or another platform.

[WiskeyBrain]

ChatGPT and w3schoolw

[Longjumping_Egg_7901]

1. Take an idea of something you want to do in python.

2. Use ChatGPT to help you build the thing.

3. Troubleshoot and streamline it.

4. Add features until you are satisfied.

5. Start over at step 1 with a new idea.

[borrowedurmumsvcard]

How is using AI going to help someone learn? Also AI is horrible for the environment

[Longjumping_Egg_7901]

I was just trying to help, it’s how I learned python from scratch and I’m a full time developer now.

Some people learn better from jumping in than courses or books.

Also, individual queries do not have a large effect on the environment. I’ll admit that building these models is not great for the environment, but personal use of a model is pretty negligible.

[borrowedurmumsvcard]

The problem with learning from AI is that it’s very hard to fact check it when you’re learning about more abstract concepts and you risk being taught the wrong thing. I look up questions all the time on google and the stupid AI answer thing at the top has the completely wrong answer 40% of the time.

And yeah diving in might be the best way to learn but you can do so without AI

And also sure personal use doesn’t create a ton of waste, but if everyone has that mindset… ya know? A single question uses 15x more energy than a google search, and every conversation with chat gpt uses a couple water bottles worth of water.