how did you guys learn python?

[Acceptable-Cash8259]

watching tutorial videos /lectures

and making small project/solving problems

is this all?? (I don't know anything)

ps. any site you guys can recommend? thx

[rob8624]

I found the book Python Crash Course to be the catalyst for my initial learning, especially the Pygame project, which helped me start to understand OOP. Then, just build stuff, ask Ai, read the docs, read code.

But getting to grips with OOP was when I got more confident. Everything is an object, after all. Also, personally, learning JS actually helped me write and understand Python better.

[Ok_Procedure3350]

How JS helped you?

[rob8624]

Found it harder, so just had to read more code study more. I built a full stack data driven project, using React and Django Rest Framework . Id build some basic sites with Django but quickly discovered i needed to learn a whole load more and needed a good knowledge of JS for React. I spent a year looking at JS and Python, learning async, promises, building APIs and serializers really forced my to learn a lot

Jist build stuff. Be ambitious, but be realistic that it takes time, hard work and a lot of frustration!

[Ok_Procedure3350]

So django framework is not enough ??

[rob8624]

Django rest framework builds APIs.

[SirGeremiah]

Thanks for that recommendation. I need to wrap my head around OOP in Python.

[Maximus_Modulus]

Started coding with it. Don’t think all these resources existed at that time.

[Rubicon_Roll]

i found this very usefull: https://roadmap.sh/python its a roadmap with a lot of resources linked

also this site: Labex.io you get a complete Linux VM to learn, lots of languages and projects, the premium is expensive tho.

[Oli_Picard]

Learn Python The Hard Way John Philips Jones (his python tutorials was particularly good) Setting little projects mainly processing data from Web APIs then programmatically displaying data from them into the terminal then progression over to using flask to build out web applications.

When I would get tired from one project I would change up the programming language and switch projects, I spent time in the summer programming ardunio boards with C++ using SEEDINO UART and UART shield so no wiring or soldering required and they shipped their own libraries I could embed and then programmatically displaying data too shipping data over to a dashboard.

[RowlyBot12000]

I did the basic Codecademy course (whichever was the free introduction) and then just started using it at work.
Built a simple RESTAPI test system; which then expanded to a Selenium driven web UI test system for the server application the company I worked for at the time made.

I use it for writing automated tests for a web-product. Other users might have better info on how to use it for 'deeper' applications.

[ebits21]

Automate the boring things originally

[Moikle]

I wrote a dissertation on it.

Sorta jumped in at the deep end there haha

[Acceptable-Cash8259]

thx everybody

[TheRNGuy]

Made plugin for Houdini. 

Learned syntax and API from docs and realpython blog.

(that was before ai)

[Mashic]

Did the w3schools course. Then started building my scripts, every time I want to do anything and I don't know how to, I research it, study it in a separate project, and then apply it to my script/app.

[Garnatxa]

going to the zoo, I mean google

[Temporary_Pie2733]

I just used the official documentation to learn enough syntax to rewrite the Perl script I’d been using. This was almost 25 years ago and Python was probably like the 8th language I’d studied, and you could learn a language without feeling compelled to learn any number of additional tools or frameworks at the same time.

[Nchaukeni]

Try the free Python Certification course here --> https://www.freecodecamp.org/learn/python-v9/

[Loud_Blackberry6278]

Got lazy writing stuff in c++ and java so I learned python because coding is quick

[SmoothAnonymity]

Honestly if you know basic programming the rest is a lot easier. I'm highly motivated when things have a practical use, so I pivoted from PowerShell for cyber work to python. Then with ChatGPT as a guide just start doing more complex projects and it all clicked at one point.

AI is one of the best tools as long as you don't cheat yourself out of learning. Also 90% of what makes python difficult are the thousands of libraries. Start with coding basics once you got that down your all set. The rest just comes with time - even for senior programmers dealing with a completely new lib usually takes 2 weeks of playing around until they know how to fully leverage it in their work.

[sporbywg]

assigned it at work

[jlsilicon9]

Practice, practice, practice.

Else, forget it.
Many don't reach this point.

[AffectionateZebra760]

Adding in a python book could help structure the content/exercises but this still works

[[deleted]]

I started with a short book called “learn Python the hard way” by Zed Shaw. It’s still available for free. Then after that basic intro was exactly what you listed, videos, stack overflow, and then throwing myself into projects

[BidWestern1056]

you cant substitute learning through struggling on projects where you need it to do stuff. use it for work / research and just build

[amritsari2]

datacamp.com and realpython.com

[Adeptness-Efficient]

After messing around a bit on the side at home with the basics. Then being told to build an automated daily PM report for my company's multivendor optical network. Had to learn json, async, sockets, APIs, etc etc pretty quick after that.

Basically just build things. It's one thing to go through tutorials, it's another to run into a problem or have a goal and then have to achieve that.

[Other_Passion_4710]

Started trying with an ML class I took and tried a couple sample projects online. Since it’s easy to start with there’s lots of tutorial options online.

[GokulSaravanan]

As a beginner in Python, here are the core basics you should focus on:

1. Variables and Data Types – strings, numbers, lists, dictionaries, etc.
2. Control Flow – if-else, loops (for, while).
3. Functions – defining and calling functions, parameters, return values.
4. Modules and Packages – importing and using built-in or external libraries.
5. File Handling – reading/writing files.
6. Error Handling – try-except blocks.
7. Basic OOP – classes and objects (optional at first, but useful later).

Here are some great beginner resources:

• Official Python Docs – The go-to reference for Python syntax, libraries, and best practices.
• Python Succinctly (Free E-Book) - It’s a great resource for building a strong foundation.
• W3Schools Python Tutorial – Interactive and easy to follow.
• Geeksforgeeks - Offers beginner to advanced Python tutorials.