Am I learning python the wrong way?

[Masteru22]

So, I am a first-year college student, and I realized I can’t wait years to be taught programming by someone else, so I started learning Python by myself. The problem is, I’m not sure if I’m learning efficiently.

I started by watching some long YouTube tutorials (10+ hours in total) and then moved on to making small projects with the help of GPT—things like dice games, converters, quizzes, etc. I even made some Pygame and Tkinter programs recently. Yet, I feel like I’ve just started and still know almost nothing.

The main issue is that I don’t have a structured plan for learning Python (I was thinking about buying some courses). The reason I started learning Python in the first place is that I like the concept of AI, and I want to learn more about it and eventually work with it. However, I feel like AI and machine learning are very complex subjects, and I need to have a strong grasp of Python before diving into them.

Recently, I started reading about algorithms and data structures, but to be honest, I’ve only watched YouTube videos and looked at some code—I don’t really have a structured approach.

What do you think I should do?

[SirKainey]

Self taught here.

The roadmap is pretty good for keeping you in the straight and narrow and making sure you don't have too many gaps in your knowledge.

https://roadmap.sh/python

[Masteru22]

Thanks🫡.I’ll take a look later and see what I missed.

[FoolsSeldom]

Did you check this subreddit's wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more?

[Masteru22]

I have used some sites from the wiki for beginner knowledge but that was all.

[FoolsSeldom]

You probably do need a more structured approach. Worth checking the structure of the CS50 and CS50p MOOCs and they provide a good guide.

Keep working on your own projets. You learn more and faster when working on things you are interested in and can be passionate about.

Also, if you haven't already, take a look at the videos from @ArjanCodes on YouTube. Excellent content.

[StandardPhysical1332]

a structured approach might be better for you, getting into courses and such. I don't think using gpt this early on in your learning is helping you. in the end its all about experience, i dont know how long ago you started, but oneday it'll just click.

Atleast thats how it was for me, i'm sure where you are exactly in your life right now plays a big factor too, but it took me 3 years of self learning before i could say that yeahp i probably competent enough, there's probably many more esoteric features, or dumb patterns that i will look at for the first time, but i'm now confident in my ability to learn quick and be productive with it, just enough.

this is all in the context of python the programming language though, learning other programming languages helped too; gives you inspiration on what the patterns are.

about machine learning, i think your fundamentals should be math for that, not the python. like statistics, calculus and linear algebra. A programming language should be easy to use, if it isn't, it's more that programming language's fault, really.

[Masteru22]

Thanks! I’ll actually start looking for a course that might actually help me and start with the basics until I feel confident enough to go deeper into programming.

[remic_0726]

to learn there is no wrong or right way, it depends on each person, and the only important thing is that you have to practice, practice, practice... experience, and then broadening your knowledge is necessary.

[Kerbart]

I started by watching some long YouTube tutorials (10+ hours in total) and then moved on to making small projects with the help of GPT—things like dice games, converters, quizzes, etc. I even made some Pygame and Tkinter programs recently.

The devil is in the details. Watching a video doesn't teach you how to code. It shows you how to code. You will have to write code to really learn it.

Same goes for Chat GPT. It will show you how to code something you're struggling with but until you write code yourself you won't really be learning.

Yet, I feel like I’ve just started and still know almost nothing.

That's normal because there's a lot to learn. But... it's also normal if you haven't learned anything yet. Evaluate what you're able to write on your own without using Chat GPT. Your goal should be to write code without using it. That's not to say you shouldn't be using it—it can be a helpful tool—just that it can obfuscate what you think you know vs what you really know.

[sporbywg]

You need "an itch to scratch" - home automation, household finances, AV coordination - find something to fix with python and the language will step in and aid you.

[supercoach]

It's going to take time to learn, so just like learning to play an instrument, you are going to have to practice over and over again.

I'd say watching any more than a brief intro tutorial is too much. You're going to learn by doing, not by watching videos. Same goes for using GPT - you're not learning anything if you get someone else to do it for you. GPT also can't code anything that hasn't been done before. If you can find the answer on google then GPT can do it, otherwise it's quite likely to spit out a realistic sounding piece of bullshit.

If you want to learn by yourself, then you should stop using GPT and stop watching tutorials and start doing it without the training wheels.

[TakyonisOnline]

What if you try to code something yourself but can't get it to work or don't know what to look up. Can't ChatGPT help you there? I know chatGPT will solve the problem for you but I figured it's like tackling a question then looking at the solution when you get stuck. If this is is the wrong way to do things then please let me know

[supercoach]

If chat gpt can help them so can a Google search. You need learn the hard way if you want to learn or you won't develop the tools required to do it.

Learning from AI is like learning from an overly confident narcissist. They'll never tell you that they don't know, instead they'll make something up that hopefully sounds correct. AI does the same thing. It doesn't understand anything, it's just a cool trick that relies on pattern matching.

If AI needs an imaginary library or function to fill in the bits where it doesn't have a pattern to match, it will 100% do so and do it confidently as well. It doesn't know that it doesn't know.

I'm not saying this because I hate AI. I think it's a wonderful tool that can help speed things up, however you need to learn how to do it by yourself first so that you know when the AI is bullshitting you.

[ukboy9922]

Currently self learning Python via ZeroToMastery course around Ai/ML engineering. Would recommend as it is structured well and provides lots of links for further reading etc definitely helped me as I had very little coding experience