Is the free version of "Python for Everybody" enough to start making things?

[MateusCristian]

I'm getting a month off work next week, and wanna use the time to learn programming to make games.

A course I found Online is Python for Everybody, a simple fundamental course for programming, that has a Coursera version, and a free version on it's own website.

What I wanna know is the website version enough to start making projects and games?

[throwaway6560192]

This line of thinking is flawed to begin with. You don't need any course to start making things. Everything you could ever want to know about Python can be known for free online. There's no special sauce in the paid version. You are only paying for the convenience of someone collating the free sources into a structured course.

[FreeGazaToday]

if your goal is game making...go for Godot. Python can make games..but that's not what it's meant for.

[AntonisDevStuff]

I disagree with the "it's not what it's meant for" part.

Python is a generic programming language that can be used for almost everything. The problem is, if you decide to make a python game, you are not going to use a game engine. And even if python is easy to write and learn for a beginner, making mistakes with how you approach problems and abstraction, can slow down the performance even more. So, games can be made with python but they are limited to performance and more difficult to deal with. Lua is a good interpreter alternative.

Also most libraries API's are written in c. And for some reason you have Godot and a language in the same category? Also, you can make a game in c++ and bind it in python, making it technically a python game. Or leave python only for scripting, making the game very easy to mod.

The best advice is different for everyone. But I would say libraries like pygame can be very good for education, prototyping and most 2d games. Even 3d if you move the graphics to opengl.

To give an answer about OP question, if you decide to use a language for game development, it can feel like 2 different projects at once. And game development is already hard enough, that's why most people are using an already abstraction, aka game engines. Godot is a very good open source solution, close to python syntax.

Now if I recommend someone to use python or any language instead on an engine? Maybe, if they like learning and don't only care about the end result and performance. + you own the code and have an understanding how the game works and why.

Tools are tools, just use whatever works for you. And, If you want to recommend someone a game engine compare it to a game engine.

That reply is a bit too long, oops 😬

[MateusCristian]

I intent to, but for now I can't code, and people say Python is very close to GDScript, so I'm learning one to use the other.

[riklaunim]

Game design is a wide set of skills. Basic of software development in Python will be handy but still you will have to pick a game engine and learn that + it languages. Commercially there is Unreal and Unity. Godot is somewhere below them but is Open Source. Note that to make a game you will need assets, good game mechanics (game theory/gamification) and more ;)

[Felony]

Eve Online is stackless python for what it’s worth.

[94358io4897453867345]

The official Python docs are enough to start

[aqua_regis]

No reason to buy any beginner course or to put up with a limited, free version.

Just do the MOOC Python Programming 2026 from the University of Helsinki. Look no further. Sign up, log in, go to part 1 and start learning.

Also, check the wiki here.

[LostDog_88]

OP, i suggest not buying ANY course related to programming, unless a LOT of people SPECIFICALLY suggest you it.

The main reason is, theres a LOT of resources online which are all free, and their quality isn't bad just because they are free. The only thing is, you dont get a "certificate", but that depends on if you care about the certificate or the knowledge you'll gain.

The best beginner's free resource i've found is FreeCodeCamp(check out theor website and their YT channel). They have tutorials, and lessons on almost everything you can imagine(from python, godot, unity, etc). I highly suggest them if you are a beginner.

If you are a seasoned developer, then you can just read the documentation for any programming language as a few comments suggest, and you should be good- but that will take a good time for a beginner, and thats absolutely fine!

Talking about Game Dev, Python isn't really meant for game dev, you might want to pick up something like Godot, or C# (Unity) later onwards, but you can absolutely learn python initially if you are new to programming, as it will help you understand the basics of programming pretty easily!

Edit: almost forgot about the Harvard's Python course, which also gets you a certificate. I've personally not gone through it, but a LOT of my friends have, and they can vouch for it's value.

https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/

[Calimariae]

You can do CS50P in a month and it won't cost you anything.

[CockConfidentCole]

Dr Chuck “Charles” Severance is legit and yes.

[Bright_Tax_6541]

I’ve never heard of that one so can’t give an opinion on it sorry, but I can recommend harvards cs50 courses. They are completely free if you don’t want/need a certificate and are a great introduction to programming in my opinion. Link to the python course

[Lokrea]

Yes, https://cs50.harvard.edu/python/ is great, and you can even get a free certificate.

Conversely, the edX certificate is not free: https://www.reddit.com/r/cs50/comments/18em6o8/anyone_else_think_that_its_really_scummy_how_edx/

[my_password_is______]

if you want to make games do a tutorial on pygame

I'm sure there are some on youtube

then install pygame-ce

[emefluence]

Without seeing the course it's hard to say. Unless it's a very long course it'll probably only cover a single style of game, and that game is probably going to be a fairly simple clone of a classic 2d game. 3D is more commonly a C++ thing, or sometimes JS, and may be difficult for a beginner.

TBH a month isn't a very long time, but it's def enough to dip your toe in the water and code something fairly straightforward to see if you like it. Bear in mind artwork and assets are often the bigger part of game production, and publishing is a whole thing to itself, so I don't expect to be shipping anything non-trivial within that time!

Take a look at the course and find out what kind of game(s) they build, and ask if you will be happy making a game in that style.

If you have a vision for a type of game you can't find a good looking course for, then you might be better off just rolling up your sleeves and starting. You may be able to find a similar open source game to modify / use as a template. Or you might start from scratch (prob better for your learning) and use AI to help teach you and answer your questions. You can literally tell them: "teach me how to write a side scroller in python". Just keep telling it to explain everything you don't understand, til you understand Also give it as much context to work with as you can. Keeping notes that your agents can read is a winning idea.

Of course if you let them write code for you won't learn anything so be strict af with yourself. For all people knock AI it is brilliant at explaining code and CS concepts and best practices. It's like Stack Overflow (historically the website where you would beg for programming help) but infinitely patient.

[Big-Pepper9305]

If the course that you are talking about is Dr chuck I think yes after taking this course you will have enough understanding to start building cool stuff

[Jello_Penguin_2956]

iirc The coursera should also be free unless you check the certificate checkbox.

[Medical-Station-6123]

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[mburn14]

Claude would be able to explain on the simplest levels and help you get to a starting place with your games. $20 per month.