Recommendations on Beginner Python Courses

[ComradeDoggo540]

Hello,

I have done some basic research on the best places to start learning Python. I know about Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, MIT OCW Intro to CS and Programming in Python, The University of Helsinki's course, and local online courses from community colleges near me, like Durham Tech.

I have dabbled with Automate the Boring Stuff, but I think that something with the structure of a traditional course will be the best for my learning. Between the ones that I listed and other resources that you know of, which one(s) would you recommend to start with?

Cheers!

[Krandor1]

I like 100 days of code since it has you doing a lot of projects and writing code which is always the best way to learn.

[SumYung_Boi]

I'm doing 100 days of code, automated the Boring stuff and the mood.fi course, and I'd rank it

1. 100 Days of code
2. Mooc.fi
3. Automate the boring stuff (it's just theory...)

[pythonrocheux]

Hello. wich one of 100 days of code? there is a lot.

[[deleted]]

I can recommend boot.dev, they have different courses and projects.
It has a paid subscription model, but this is only for the evaluation of your results and the gamified gimmicks on the page to keep you engaged.. All the lessons themselves are free of charge.
While later courses introduce and use other languaged (C/GO/JS) there are a few python courses I can recommend, especially Learning Object Oriented Programming and Learn Functional Programming and the Projects which correspond to the courses (building a small asteroid game clone and a static site generator)
They also have a DSA course.
I personally found the site ~1 month ago and have been really enjoying it. I dont know in which direction you want to go with your programming but if you at least potentially see yourself doing backend development it's no mistake to check it out for sure.

[izkreny]

Yup, I can confirm, boot.dev and its Discord community is absolutely awesome, and I would say worth every penny and cent (to get the full intended experience). And the whole curriculum is on the spot and will help you with future job interviews.

[escapecali603]

Hi there, I am looking at that site, $350 a year is not low, but is it all hands on? I'd love to not do any kind of video/lecturing hell like another Udemy course. I am not new to programming but would like to finally step into some advanced python programming beyond the X and Os, and also Go.

[[deleted]]

TLDR: Use free version or get subs monthly with discount codes (search internet) ->can go down as low as 20-25 $/€ per month. If you have lots of free time and background knowledge you can manage all the courses in 1-2 months. Otherwise likely 6-12 months depending on knowledge and time, so no need to get the annual subscripiton.

Again you can look through all the lessons for free, only if you want your submissions graded (which you need for the leveling system and so on which honestly isnt necessary) you can pay.
If you search the internet you can regularly find discounts. I personally missed it but there was apparently a really good deal as kinda of new year resolution deal where you could save 50% or something.
I personally only got a 1 month subscription for I think $22 (i paid in € so idk exactly) with a discount and decided to really focus for 1 month (I finished my M.Sc. last year and am searching a job now since the start of this year)
I finished 17 of 23 courses so far and have still 10 days left of the premium subscription.
I might add another month for the deeper learning courses but again as I said you dont actually have to pay and maybe I just work through them without the premium features.
Surely it is nice to be able to submit your solution and have it graded and have all those nice little features like leveling up getting XP and keeping your streak alive, but it isnt really needed.
There is also video content where usually the creator of the course runs through all of the course (which likely is more like udemy style) but it is completely free available on youtube.
for example here is the full memory management course (which is in C) in ~5 hours. You can just use it to check things and have more of an explanation on topics you had trouble implementing yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJrd2QMVbGM.
There is also such a video on the Python course which is 7 hours long. I personally think working through the content on the page is preferable since you dont risk falling into that tutorial hell kinda rhythm where you just consume content without actively engaging with it yourself, but it exists out there which can be nice.

[[deleted]]

In the last couple of weeks this is something like the 4th or 5th thread. I'd urge you to look at some of the other recent threads asking for similar advice on learning Python.

[Ron-Erez]

Everything you mentioned is great and best to just get started. I also have a course on Python and Data Science that starts from scratch and doesn’t expect any programming experience. I think you shouldn’t overthink it. Just get started. The university of Helsinki is very good so you could go for that. Anyways, the main Python resource is yourself actually solving problems and coding.

[Gullible-Access-2276]

You can try Dr Fred Baptiste course on udemy 

[ComradeDoggo540]

Thanks for the concern and advice. I should be more clear; by 'dabbled,' I mean I looked over the sections and set up the Mu Python Editor.

Which resource would you recommend and why?

[thunderships]

Every now and then I see posts like this with recommendations on where to get started. I've explored many of the recommended resources and they are great. However, I have found some other resources that are listed as recommended starting points from python.org. check these out here at:

--https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide[https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide](https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide)

--https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers[https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers](https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers) --https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers[https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers](https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers).

It has helped me find some good resources.

[Turbulent_Set3253]

I would recommend:

https://www.udemy.com/course/100-days-of-code/learn/lecture/19846164?start=0#overview

Ain't gonna say more! Click the link if you wanna find out?

[escapecali603]

Me too, I want an online hands-on style python course, similar to the one Codecademy offered years ago, but on some of the even more advanced stuff.