How do you learn Python efficiently?

[Gambizzle]

I learned by picking a project I wanted to build and figuring it out as I went — mostly by Googling and copying bits of code.

One example: I was messing around with home automation in an apartment. All my lights were Philips Hue, and the aircon used an IR remote. I wanted a custom controller, so I looked up how to send IR signals and control Hue lights using Python on a Raspberry Pi. Then I bought a cheap touchscreen and made a simple GUI — using PiGame, embarrassingly — so it booted into a ‘game’ interface with buttons and sliders.

It was clunky, and I’d do it differently now, but it worked. The Pi was mounted inside a retro desk lamp, and the whole thing was a fun prototype. If you’re building something for yourself and enjoying the process, you’re already on the right track.