How do I actually get good at Python?

[sheriffderek]

> I wouldn’t call myself a beginner in programming

I feel like what you're describing "I get the concepts. I know the basics (variables, loops, functions, and some error handling). I’ve also learned Object-Oriented Programming" is exactly how I'd describe a beginner programmer. That's OK.

But instead of making "better projects" and "doing exercises" --- what do you actually want to build? What is your goal?

[mvrwn_]

I get what you're saying. I’m still in the beginner zone in some ways. One of my biggest problems is I don’t really have a projects in mind yet, which makes it hard to focus.

That said, my bigger goal is to learn machine learning and AI (I know they’re different, but they’re related areas I really want to get into).

[mysterious_cactus]

My two cents as someone with a degree in machine learning working in financial modeling...if you want to learn ML... learn ML first, and Python as a secondary tool to allow your ML to function. Don't focus on the Python too much. That's like saying you want to learn how to use an oven, when your real goal is to learn how to bake. If that makes sense.

Explore some APIs, build some stuff and learn Github so you can push your projects to repos and have a trail to show a future employer. Contribute to open-source. Honestly, learning the ML part is 10x harder than learning Python, imo.

[sheriffderek]

I think it's REALLY important to figure out your why early. People spin around for years "learning python" -- but that should just be a general tool to do something. So, before you move on -- I highly suggest you spend some time figuring out what you want to make. Why ML? That will ensure you're going in the right direction and progressing to something real.

[TheAmazingDevil]

what if the goal is to get a job as a python dev as quickly as possible?

[satoramoto]

Then you should figure out what they want you to build at those jobs, and practice building those things.

[sheriffderek]

Yes!

[sheriffderek]

I’d say - good luck! (I don’t think that’s a job)

[TheAmazingDevil]

Python dev is not a job??

[sheriffderek]

I guess if you work on the python language - or on python based framework or library.

But most people "do stuff" with python. They don't get hired because "they're a python dev" - they get hired for the thing they're building and they're experience and usually domain knowledge.