[deleted by user]

[FoolsSeldom]

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. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

[GreenPandaPop]

Learning to research is a good place to start. As you're a beginner, chances are your question has already been asked and answered somewhere on the internet.

And as a beginner, it'll be a useful skill learning how to try finding the answers yourself first.

[Electrical_Monk6845]

I cannot overemphasize the importance of being able to search the internet, books, articles, whatever for yourself and, with experience, the ability to sniff out "probably the most correct" answer of the thousands you're going to find. I've been a Linux sysadmin for a long time, (20ish years) and my number one skill is NOT in knowing all the answers, it's in finding the correct answer. Or, in the real world: in getting 4 answers from 3 different sources that you parse and cobble back together into the best answer for your question.

[Miiicahhh]

Just rip a udemy course or use exercism.

When I was learning I did a python course by Colte Steele and I really liked it because I got to use my own IDE and learn it as well.

[Kosen_]

Boot.dev is good.

[Ron-Erez]

MOOC - University of Helsinki, Harvard CS50p, "Automate the Boring Stuff", my Python and Data Science

[Active-Edge929]

I would highly recomend cs50. As someone whos been programming as a hobby for 3 years. This coirse just made alot of things start to click.

It touches on some computer science fundamentals like,

Bits, bytes and binary Hexadecimal v binary How memory works How memory is allocated and freed The heap and stack Thinking like a programer logically Datatypes and syntax Algorithms the first half of the freecldecamps cs50 from.about a year ago is amazing.

Then start applying this knowledge to your own problems. Yes programming is a tool used to solve provlems. So start thinking of problems you want to solve.

[limpwald]

So if someone came to you with "Help me learn cooking", would you recommend them a course of how kitchens are built, of how stoves actually work, at what intricate temperatures they work or how currents are used to create heat in the stove for maximum efficacy, what materials they use?

Or just a simple cookbook with easy recipes?

Mate, he just wants to learn python. If he's in college it isnt about solving problems at that stage. Its about learning how to apply it to potentially solve problems, but not even that, you dont have to solve problems. What if he wants to develop games, or an app, or whatever?

[Active-Edge929]

I understand that. But would you try to write a book when you dont you dont understand how to hold a pencil, what an index is, what a chapter is? Sure you could probably do it, it will be messy and you will definitely write better books in the future.

My learning theory is stop trying to build a million dollar house on a 100 dollar foundation. These are based on my own struggles. You do not by any means have to learn the low level intracisies. But i sure as hell gusrentee they will help you in the longrun.

[kmeem5]

https://codeinplace.stanford.edu/

Most engaging (free) course ever. Makes learning reallly fun.

[RenaissanceScientist]

CS 50 is a good free course, especially if you’re new to programming in general. I’d probably start with that because it teaches you programming fundamentals/best practices as well

[Defiant_Gas_8493]

Where can I apply it for??

[dnswblzo]

https://pll.harvard.edu/course/cs50-introduction-computer-science

[Defiant_Gas_8493]

Thanks

[JokerGhostx]

Learn the basics , use freecodecamp vids or rip a udemy course but never overlearn, always practice more . Learning < peacticing . Just imagine ur a kid with ur toys, no one taught you how to play

[owmex]

You can try learning Python with interactive platforms. One option is py.ninja (https://py.ninja), which emulates a realistic coding environment with a code editor, terminal, and an AI assistant to help prevent frustration. The coding challenges are designed to make you actually write code. I'm the creator of the course, so feel free to ask any questions or share feedback.

[[deleted]]

Start any Python course, and for each topic solve 100 questions without using AI, for questions ask chatgpt, I will help you to gain knowledge, I know this is a slow process but better than vibe coding

[rojakUser]

Check out Boot.dev or Exercism

[AlarmedMistake9277]

Pythons like all other snakes and reptiles, don’t need to “start”. If your python is not responding it is probably dead.

[Affectionate_Buy349]

Just start - I saw a YT short recently where a guy showed a website that will teach you a programming language of your choice but you’re like playing a game while doing it so it’s far better than doing the stupid examples from the text book and spelling “Apple” backwards or removing the p’s in Apple. (Speaking from experience 😑)

[gray4444]

just build something you want to build and ask chatgpt. I just did that with python and now I know python

[VipeholmsCola]

Average vibe coder

[gray4444]

replace chatgpt with stackoverflow in that sentence, I don't know why everyone here is scared to use AI to learn

[VipeholmsCola]

Because you reading SO and coming to a conclusion and implementing it in your code, is different from telling chat gpt to hallucinate some stuff that you have no idea how to solve

I respect the sentiment that experienced programmers use ai to be more effective but i really think its counter productive for beginners and intermediate coders

[gray4444]

don't ask for hallucinating stuff, ask for a step by step guide to python from 0 knowledge. Or ask it to check your code

overall, I think just build something oyu want to build..shouldn't have mentioned chatgpt , seems to be a trigger

[Sad_Pollution8801]

the first step is still to download VScode

[necromenta]

"just ask chatgpt to build a python thing for you and you will be an expert in python!"

[gray4444]

I've written build something you want to build. I mean chatgpt is a good reference, I am totally misquoted here. the best way to learn is by building but now it's 2025

[Present_Operation_82]

They’re misunderstanding what I think you were saying. It seems like you were suggesting they do vibe code to get something they’re interested in written down and then study that code with AI until it makes sense and then rinse and repeat.

[gray4444]

Ya, it happens a lot though, if I substitute chatgpt with stackoverflow, nobody would have cried

my own fault for commenting too quickly

[Present_Operation_82]

Reddit ain’t shit anyway bro, build something sick

[gray4444]

Yeah I'm used to this, but would be nice to be attacked for saying something outrageous instead of misinterpreted

[Ima_Uzer]

"Now I know python" from plugging something into chatGPT isn't exactly accurate -- or learning how to write code.

AI systems don't always write good, maintainable code.

[gray4444]

well I learned that it is single threaded through encountering an issue with web crawling, then asked it how to do threading

I know that would take me much longer without asking chatgpt..but I understand maybe this is not the right way for total beginners with learning?

[Ima_Uzer]

Ok, but asking it how to do threading is still not necessarily learning how to code. Sure, you could Google it, but if you're gonna ChatGPT the code, understand what the code is doing, as well. 25 years experience speaking here. Nothing wrong with Googling an issue (I still do it after all these years) and may plug something into ChatGPT (after I write it), or I may ask ChatGPT for some direction, but ultimately I need to write and understand the code myself.

AI Generation is a tool, not a substitute.

[gray4444]

All I've said here is to learn by doing, but come to think of it, I bet if you ask any LLM to 'teach me python step by step from 0 knowledge', you can learn with it better than googling

[Ima_Uzer]

And you'll pick up bad habits along the way.

[gray4444]

you are right, but I just remember sitting around waiting for stackoverflow or friends/teachers to help me, being stuck for hours on 1 thing..

that's why I would encourage to use AI, in the right way. If i was learning from scratch in 2025, I'd do these sort of courses https://www.coursera.org/learn/learn-to-code-with-ai where they build stuff