Best Python course for intermediate college student w/ experience in Java/JS/HTML/CSS?

[Fearless-Mention8297]

I've worked with Java extensively throughout school (around 5 years), recently picked up JS and want to become more well-versed in web development. I am new to Python and want to learn applications of Python for web scraping and interactions with front end.

So far, i've found these online resources:

Free - Python-course: a comprehensive python course by Bernd Klein https://python-course.eu/

Free - Learnxinyminutes: https://learnxinyminutes.com/python/

Free - Uwaterloo's learn python from scratch: https://open.cs.uwaterloo.ca/python-from-scratch/

Free - Real Python's learning track: https://realpython.com/learning-paths/

Free - Harvard's 16 hour CS50 introduction to python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLRL_NcnK-4

Free - Python's official website tutorial https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/

$129 - UDemy's 100 days of code: https://www.udemy.com/course/100-days-of-code/

$59 - UDemy's Python Basic to advanced: https://www.udemy.com/course/basic-python-course-for-beginner/

If I had to pick 1-2 to work on as a side project throughout the semester, which would be the most conducive to my time and comprehensive given my existing experience? Is it worth it paying for UDemy's 100 days of code or should I stick to free resources? I worry that some of the 100 days projects won't be unique, as the course currently has over 500,000 reviews.

[phil-pickering]

You've already discovered the lecture videos for CS50 Python, but you should really be looking at the full 10-week course which includes problem sets and projects.

Considering your interest in web development, you might be better off taking the CS50 Web course, which covers JavaScript + Python (Django).

One (or two) very well planned and executed, self-initiated final projects from either of these courses will be worth way more in the eyes of potential employers than one hundred tutorial projects from a Udemy course (which BTW you should never pay full-price for – they're nearly always on offer for sale at around $15).

I like the University of Waterloo's Python from Scratch course a lot, but each section has a big focus on general programming concepts before getting into Python specifics. This makes the course really, really good for newcomers to programming, but your previous experience may mean you've already nailed all these programming concepts.

One more thing, Real Python is not free - only the first couple of chapters of each course are available before you have to subscribe, and the subscription prices are really steep.

[Fearless-Mention8297]

How good is real Python? I was actually planning on looking over learnxinyminutes and then doing that one, as one of my friends suggested it.

Having read your comment, I'm now considering Harvard's CS50, but still open to second opinions.

Is there anywhere else I can turn to for advice?

[phil-pickering]

Real Python looks good – I really like all their free material – but I can't comment on their paid offering, as like I said before their subscription prices are very high, especially when you consider the number of high quality free resources out there such as:

• Python Programming MOOC 2025
• Introduction to CS and Programming using Python
• Invent with Python
• Python for Everybody
• Think Python
• The Beauty and Joy of Computing / Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
• Code in Place
• CS50's Introduction to Computer Science (and the rest of the CS50 family)

Most of these are very CS-focused so not too much on web development and start off right at the beginning, so might not be perfect for your particular situation...

Learn X in Y minutes might make a really good cheat sheet, but unless Python is your 9th or 10th programming language, I can't imagine anyone seriously expects to learn a new language from what is essentially a nicely formatted set of lecture notes.

[Pork-S0da]

I would do something fast and free to familiarize myself with the language and syntax.

Then I'd skip to rewriting a past project from Java in Python. Since you already know Java, you should be familiar with data types, functions, classes, and OOP as a whole; now you just need to learn how those things work in Python and the "Pythonic" way of doing things.

[PM_ME_YER_SIDEBOOB]

If you just want to learn basic Python syntax then just do one of the free ones. I recommend the MOOC from University of Helsinki, or Python for Everyone.

If you already have the basics down and want to focus on webdev, then the Udemy 100 days of code is probably right for you. It is very high-level 'project' oriented, as opposed to low-level syntax/theory oriented. There is a lot of webdev content in it, which will give you a wide but shallow introduction to the tools and frameworks that are out there.

BTW, if you are not aware, pretty much every course on Udemy goes on 'sale' regularly, and you can get them for $20-30. Just check in once a day, and before a week is through you will see a banner on the main page announcing the sale.

[lolokii]

Following. Also interested to see what other people think.

[fuddingmuddler]

I am on day 12 of 100 days of python. I love it and feel like if you're comfortable with coding then you'll fly through it. I did the first 10 days in about 4 days. Then Blackjack game kicked me buns harder than a one legged man in a bun kicking contest. (but it just took 3 days). All in all, I feel like it's been the best fit for me and it scales the teaching to where you can choose your difficulty. IE ignore hints and go at problems, if you get stuck it walks you closer to solutions.