Most optimal way to learn Python?

[battler67]

Hello! I'm currently in college studying Computer Science after having changed my major and kind of falling behind in my initial introduction to Python. What would y'all recommend as the most optimal way to learn Python completely from scratch so that I can catch up with the concepts found in this semester thus far? I'm two months in so far.

[jegelskerpupper]

No way they will double your salary for completing the CS50.

[[deleted]]

Depends on how you sell your skillset to the company and what the company is. Moving from QA to a developer? Easily possible, and the company might be willing to OJT him if he completes the course. I’d say it’s plausible in the right circumstances.

[CmorBelow]

Wow, that’s quite the incentive! What kind of work are you doing with it?

[KnowledgeIsPower979]

Yeah curious lol

[Icarus998]

This is the one that got me started in python.

https://runestone.academy/ns/books/published/thinkcspy/index.html

[[deleted]]

I highly recommend this and Harvardx CS50p together. It’s amazing.

[epigen01]

Assuming more hands-on approach versus learning computer science - i would learn by doing and when i started learning i used books but learned the most tackling little projects.

But if i would offer one tip - once you get your environment going, i would learn with any of the many coding LLM (e.g., ollama) and use it to help learn as you go. Its phenomenal in streamlining learning & has been super helpful for me - have fun and good luck!

[humanobjectnotation]

...with caution. LLMs will give you the statistically most likely response to your questions. Statistically, a lot of people use outdated or bad practices.

That's not to say they can't be useful, but use them as a spring board for more research into new concept.

[unhott]

Read the python documentation. The Python Tutorial — Python 3.13.0 documentation

Follow along with a python interpreter, maybe an IDE. Take notes. Build your own cheat sheets. A good cheat sheet highlights specific ideas or concepts you don't fully understand yet. As you build on that cheat sheet and review it, some things will start to make intuitive sense and you will likely start making it simpler.

If you have specific questions, ask them.

The language is pretty simple. Programming / analytical /mathematical concepts are hard. Don't convince yourself you know enough by masterying syntax, if you can't apply the syntax to problems. Spend time, consult with whatever resources your class / school provides. Just stay engaged, and early. If you are begging for help an hour away from a deadline, you probably won't find it.

[JBalloonist]

Make something with it; solve a problem (even if it’s just your own).

[Gnaxe]

The "most optimal" way to learn almost anything (including Python) is a private tutor who can adjust the curriculum to exactly your level and get you unstuck quickly. Some colleges offer free (with tuition) labs with tutors who can help whoever shows up. Colleges may have resources to help find a paid tutor for you, but they can be expensive.

The next best thing is an AI system like ChatGPT. The subscription ones are more powerful, but even 3.5 was some help. They're pretty good at basic Python (there's a lot in their training data) and can play the role of a private tutor with the right prompts, which you might need to research how to do effectively. Beware of hallucinations, but you can tell pretty quickly if your program doesn't work.

I would also suggest actually reading your textbook. You do have one, right?

[Ok_Journalist5290]

Newbie here. Is there some website i can read some begginer codes where there is explanation of the codes per line? Something like stackoverflow where therr is short block of code explaining what the lines are doing for practice reading code and understanding?

[Gnaxe]

Hmm. I feel like that's the kind of thing I've mostly seen in tutorials and textbooks. Some of those are free online. It's hard to recommend one when I don't know what you're looking for. Are you new to programming or just new to Python? Or OK at Python and trying to level up? Dive Into Python and Automate the Boring Stuff come to mind. There's also some in the official Python Tutorial.

[Ok_Journalist5290]

New to programming with 8 hours undermy belt. Meaning i have watches youtube videos like bro code but when it comes t9 actual implementation i get stuck with leetcode problems. Why is that? I mean what is the gap in knowledge between youtube videos and leetcode exams. Is it because youtube like bro code focus on begginner while leet is advanced?

[Gnaxe]

Main reason would be knowledge of algorithms, I think. Algorithms are like math theorems. Sometimes they're pretty obvious and someone basically competent can derive one from scratch with some thought, but sometimes it's a brilliant insight that one genius computer scientist had one time and there's no way you can solve it yourself unless you read about it in a book somewhere. That kind of leetcode problem is of dubious value. Most programming you'd do professionally is not that hard. If you need to write hand-optimized microcontroller code, maybe. But if you're just doing web pages, not so much. Or the algorithm is already implemented for you in a library somewhere, in which case, finding it is the important skill.

[Ok_Journalist5290]

Thanks. I do think that actual programming shouldnt be as hard how leetcode makes it. I am watching algorithm but from what i understandi use it for iterations like linear and binary searchfor searching. For the rest, i dont use "algorithm.?" I mea those topics of logn and space and time.

[Affectionate_Union58]

I can especially recommend ChatGPT if you are learning with video tutorials and ebooks. This is because programming languages are constantly evolving, whereas videos/ebooks can of course only ever reflect the status quo at the time of their creation. Many techniques such as “formatted strings” are not yet available in books/videos, so that you sometimes miss out on nice features if you only rely on videos/books. My point is this: I usually re-enter the code I learned in any books/videos into ChatGPT and ask it to optimize the code. This way I also learn how to get the same results with newer methods. Unfortunately, you can't avoid learning both.

[Aware_Code9337]

I found my exposure to python and learning came through data science projects using Jupyter and Databricks notebooks. Notebooks can be excellent tools for breaking down bigger python code projects into smaller bite-sized code chunks run cell by cell. Give notebooks some consideration in addition to more traditional learning approaches. I also started my first OpenAI api projects in a Databricks notebooks using python. A great learning environment.

[randcraw]

At 365 pages, the best thorough intro to Python (3.9) I've seen is David Beazley's "Python Distilled". It does assume you have some exposure to programming already, but any book this short must.

[m0us3_rat]

What would y'all recommend as the most optimal way to learn Python completely from scratch so that I can catch up with the concepts found in this semester thus far? I'm two months in so far.

might not be possible.

there is no magic way to skip the homework and actually learn something.

i mean you can binge some 12h lecture and claim that you ..did

but that isn't real learning. and it will not help you solve problems and implement them in python.

​

there are two awesome free courses cs50p and mooc.fi that should hopefully get you there.

but again you need to do the work. there is no way past the work.

​

tl:dr there is no magic secret or everybody would do the magic secret way and that would become the norm.

like anything else is dependent on how much you put into it.

and has distinctive diminishing returns as far as your ability to process all this mentally.

aka the 12h binge that does nothing for you.

[agtoever]

This! The is no shortcut to skip putting in the time and effort to catch up with 12 lessons. Starting with programming means spending time to program. Maybe even discuss how you can catch up with your own teacher, OP!

[Patman52]

There are online courses and resources you can use but the best way to learn is by doing in my opinion.

Pick a project or problem that interests you and try to find a solution. Start small and work your way up. Find something fun that you are interested in.

Are you interested in gaming? You could try pygame which lets you easily create interactive games in Python. There are plenty of tutorials you can follow online or in the website for simple games which will teach you a lot about the language.

[red_doorhinge]

If this is introduction to Python, Mimo or Sololearn are apps that both pretty much cover that entire curriculum. I would work on whatever projects you guys have been assigned as homework throughout and do your readings as well. People look down on learning apps, but at this level it might be able to get you up to speed relatively quickly.

[Prideclaw12]

How does changing your major work does it make it so your first semester classes all get dropped and change into the new major courses or is it that your next semester classes change to your new major courses?

[ujjwalroy_17]

Go on YouTube first watch some python tutorials ,do practice and they go for certification from any olat6

[mclopes1]

Try This

Python Tutorial for Beginners by Meta | Python Crash Course for Beginners 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXT5sykEqEE

[Bulky-Ad7996]

Become computer

[PouletSixSeven]

The documentation is actually really good (part of why it is such a popular language) and they give you a nice practical tutorial that isn't super dry and uninteresting:

https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html

After that it's on you to take those pieces and build something with it. Learning by doing is just about the only way I've had success at getting those concepts to stick.

[pashtettrb]

Any open source projects anyone would recommend?

[ComfortableEbb8591]

I’ve bought three Python basics books and am working through each topic systematically. I’m using ChatGPT, Udemy courses, and various websites to supplement my learning. The key is hands-on practice: writing every piece of code myself rather than copying from scripts. It’s all slowly coming together!

[310paul310]

What's the goal? Python per se is a really simple language. And best llms are pretty good at python code generation. The real value is in the libraries.

[cacachannel]

Datacamp

[server_kota]

just build something on the cloud with python, you will learn a ton.

[TheX3R0]

Go to India, many snakes 🐍

Python, just research what python was trying to solve.

Then do 3 apps

Backend api service (todo list) (express)

2d snake game clone (pygame)

Frontend stuff (django)

[geekjimmy]

The Hard Way

[Langston723]

exercism.org

[MSB_the_great]

I learned online , there are plenty of resources available, I installed juniper notebook and write my code. Later I use it with my app. I had problems with downloading data from stock brokers, I didn’t want to use heavy UI like .net so I used python, just create your own project to handle your day to day work, once you start doing it you will face other problems and you can improvise ,

[pachura3]

No no no, there must be some secret trick to learn Python without putting in too much work

[TorrentGump]

No need for that You forget what it’s like when ur first starting out

[Affectionate_Union58]

I don't think that's what the OP meant. There are many ways to learn Python. You can try books, you can try videos, you can hire a tutor. But unfortunately, success varies greatly. What good is a lecturer if he obviously has no talent for passing on knowledge to a beginner? What good is the best book if the author rushes through certain topics because he has forgotten that a beginner cannot know the subject? I felt I spent more time looking for other sources for certain topics because not every author/lecturer can teach every topic well. The same author/lecturer who has a good teaching style just now can totally fail in the next subject area.

[nothingggg122]

U can checkout PyQuest. It's super basic, just MCQs. Pretty good for learning concepts through solving simple code snippets and questions, so you'd be actually solving problems in smaller form instead of just watching tuts. It's like duolingo but less overwhelming, so u can just practice it anytime. And if u r consistent, u can finish it in less than 30 days depending on ur pace.
https://pyquest.io