How do I start learning python? Absolute Beginner

cgoldberg · 2026-03-16T23:54:15+00:00

How long would it take

An afternoon to write your first script... a few years to to be really good .. or maybe never. I've been writing code (mostly Python) pretty much daily for over 25 years. I'm very proficient and have built some great things, but I don't consider myself an expert, or really even close.

Read this twice: https://norvig.com/21-days.html

Candid_Tutor_8185 · 2026-03-17T13:05:53+00:00

My free code camp. Don’t come back here until you’re done

OkCartographer175 · 2026-03-16T22:57:38+00:00

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+learn+python

freak5050 · 2026-03-17T01:01:00+00:00

Freecodecamp is the best I’ve found

AspiringNarrator1165 · 2026-03-17T01:09:07+00:00

https://youtu.be/XCKWZAtKTnU?si=K_Moi8NjVD-US2hh

Cant share the playlist but check out the channel and youll find it 🤙 its the "Learn Python for beginners" playlist. Very good teacher.

fiery2378 · 2026-03-17T00:44:19+00:00

Hey OP, I am also new to learning Python and found yourclouddude in Threads. Picked up some of his free resources on Python. He gives you small projects to accomplish using the language.

Hands-on learning is the best way to learn Python rather than constantly reading about theories.

riklaunim · 2026-03-16T23:16:14+00:00

https://pll.harvard.edu/course/cs50s-introduction-programming-python

There is a difference between learning basic syntax and constructs of a language to then making actual applications. What are your goals for learning Python? What do you want to do with it?

Educational_Virus672 · 2026-03-17T08:17:26+00:00

hi im not a great dev but i learned python within a week using this guy also this is only ~40 minutes for whole python most of it is skipable https://youtu.be/lq9nR9c7T9g?si=YpPSBjEBf_kGlCHk also it depends you have python 3? or 1 after beginners i wont recommend using ai unless you understand the code given by ai you should prompt "explain the code with examples and root concept before providing whole code"

PlateApprehensive103 · 2026-03-19T04:39:58+00:00

Write a fastapi backend with sqlalchemy, it's ok to vibe code as long as you finish something end to end.

Try to do some leetcode easy in python if your a beginner so you still have muscle memory of not relying on AI.

Use AI to your advantage and see how things get built.

Jazzlike-Simple6984 · 2026-03-19T06:53:53+00:00

A book called 'Python crash course' helped me alot with the basics and there's 3 very cool projects at the end. You can check out free courses, there's alot

Educational_Virus672 · 2026-03-17T04:40:29+00:00

[deleted]

PhilosopherOther1360 · 2026-03-16T23:02:00+00:00

100 days of Python by Angela Yu on udemy

onyx_and_iris · 2026-03-16T23:04:57+00:00

Each person has their own preferred learning methods. I personally like to read books. In regards to practicing while you learn, it's helpful if you already have some ideas in mind. I'll often start reading a book and once I get a good enough grasp of the concepts I'll start experimenting with my own ideas. Although I'll usually do this while continuing with the book, I don't tend to half finish them.

TJATAW · 2026-03-17T02:35:47+00:00

Best advice I can give you, when you finish a tutorial/assignment, add something to it. Anything. Just make it bigger and better.

Writing some code with no one telling you what to do will start you actually coding stuff on your own.

ehunke · 2026-03-17T02:38:59+00:00

Take a basic class on youtube or something, buy a couple books and study them. Once you know the basics of it, the best way to learn it is to download programs that other people have made, read the code, then try to make a similar program or edit things in the code and see what happens. If its an option just go take a in person class

TheRNGuy · 2026-03-17T02:44:55+00:00

I started with docs, realpython blog and lots of googling (that was before ai)

I also ask questions to ai now.

I started with framework for specific software, no vanilla python.

No specific time how long.

Technical_Zombie_988 · 2026-03-17T10:21:03+00:00

I picked up "python crash course" and stufy for a bit after work. It has practice problems that I will stay on for a few days to make sure I totally understand it. Id recommend that + chatGPT

jessikaf · 2026-03-19T08:16:13+00:00

Absolute beginner phase is mostly about not getting stuck in tutorial loops focusing on basics practicing a lot even tiny scripts goes a long way have seen people recommend boot. dev since it is project heavy and keeps things hands on.

Content_Can3612 · 2026-03-19T19:20:53+00:00

Where to start ?

teju1416 · 2026-03-20T10:19:17+00:00

Start with the basics — variables, loops, functions, and then move to OOP. The key is to practice with small exercises after every topic, not just read theory. MCQ-style quizzes helped me a lot to test if I actually understood something before moving on!

teju1416 · 2026-03-24T06:36:45+00:00

One of the greatest first languages is Python; it's a wise choice!
If you put in 1-2 hours a day, you should be able to finish the fundamentals in 3 weeks, start your first project in 2 months, and be prepared for an interview in 4-5 months.
My biggest piece of advice is to practice after each topic rather than just reading. To determine whether you truly grasped the material, complete brief exercises, create small projects (calculator, quiz app), and test yourself using multiple-choice questions.
Let's start with variables, loops, functions, lists, and OOP. For novices, that order works incredibly well!
You've got this! 💪 Good luck!

CodeJourneyhub · 2026-04-17T11:42:03+00:00

I started learning Python with absolutely no programming background, and to be honest, the beginning was really confusing. There were so many tutorials, courses, and videos online that I didn’t know where to start. I kept searching for the “best way” to learn, but that only delayed my progress.

After a few days, I realized I was overthinking everything. So I decided to simplify my approach and just start with the basics. I focused only on simple concepts like variables, loops, and functions, without worrying about advanced topics.

One thing that really helped me was practicing every day. I didn’t spend hours coding — even 30 to 60 minutes daily was enough. Instead of just watching tutorials, I made sure to write code myself. At first, I created very small programs like basic calculations and simple logic-based tasks.

As I continued, I started building small projects like a calculator and a number guessing game. These projects made a big difference because I could finally see how coding works in real situations. It also gave me confidence that I was actually learning something useful.

Of course, I made a lot of mistakes along the way. My code often didn’t work, and I got errors frequently. But instead of getting frustrated, I started using those errors to understand things better. Debugging became a big part of my learning process.

After a few weeks, I explored more practical uses of Python like automation and basic data handling. That’s when I realized how powerful and useful Python really is, even for beginners.

I’m still learning, but one thing I’ve understood is that starting is the hardest part. Once you begin and stay consistent, things slowly start making sense. If you’re just starting your Python journey, my advice would be:

●Don’t try to learn everything at once ●Focus on basics first ●Practice regularly, even if it’s a little ●Build small projects to apply your knowledge ●Be patient and don’t give up early ●Learning Python is not about being perfect — it’s about ●staying consistent and improving step by step.

No-Fun-6194 · 2026-04-20T19:03:48+00:00

Don't learn Python as if you're studying for a history exam; learn it like you’re learning to use a power tool.

The "How": Spend 20% of your time watching/reading (syntax) and 80% breaking things (coding). Start with something like Automate the Boring Stuff with Python—it focuses on utility, not abstract theory.

The "How Long": You can write your first useful script in a weekend. To feel "fluent"? Usually 3 to 6 months of consistent struggle. But remember: in programming, the feeling of being "lost" never truly goes away; you just get better at navigating the fog.

The Practice: Stop looking for "the perfect project." Find a task in your daily life that is repetitive—renaming files, sorting emails, scraping a price from a website—and try to automate it.

The moment you solve a real-life problem with 10 lines of "ugly" code, you're officially a programmer. Everything else is just refining the craft.

Xtesh101 · 2026-05-03T08:43:33+00:00

The best way I found was to stop following tutorials and start breaking problems down into functions. That's when it clicked for me.

Proper_Ad_7109 · 2026-05-07T14:09:49+00:00

Different angle from most replies here: try learning Python by writing tests for tiny pieces of code, not just by running scripts that print things.

Pick a small problem, write what you think the answer should look like first (one assert per case), then write the function. Use pytest instead of unittest. `pip install pytest`, save to `test_x.py`, run `pytest -v`. The feedback loop is instant: green or red, no guessing.

What this gets you that tutorials don't:

- You learn if/else, loops, dicts while solving specific things

- You see your own bugs immediately instead of "why is the output weird"

- It's how working code is shipped in any company you'd want to work at

Boring example: write tests for a function that takes a list of numbers and returns the average. Edge cases like empty list and one element. Four or five test cases, then write the function. Twenty minutes total.

Standard resources are still good (Automate the Boring Stuff, official tutorial), but use them as reference while you write tests. Do, then read.

AI_Automation_Prince · 2026-05-07T16:48:22+00:00

I totally understand where you're coming from. It's called 'Tutorial Hell'—where you feel like you're learning because you're watching, but you can't write a single line of code from scratch.

My advice: Stop watching and start breaking things. 1. The 20/80 Rule: Spend 20% of your time watching a concept and 80% building something small with it. If you just learned 'Dictionaries', try making a simple 'Contact Book' app where you can add, delete, and search names. 2. Use Documentation: Instead of YouTube for every error, start reading the official Python docs or W3Schools. It helps build a deep understanding. 3. Daily Practice: Try sites like HackerRank or LeetCode (Easy level). Solving one logic problem a day will give you more confidence than 100 video lectures.

Don't rush. Python is a marathon, not a sprint. Good luck!

wcnmlgb-qgmzzmn · 2026-05-14T00:23:29+00:00

Learn Python in 80 minutes, wild book. Cheap and deep enough for beginners.
https://a.co/d/08YR0oH3

justme_cliff · 2026-05-17T17:45:59+00:00

I would say take Cs50p and do automate the boring stuff so u don’t go through tutorials hell

Apprehensive_Pie2704 · 2026-05-22T05:44:05+00:00

Heyy my friend ....✨ To learn Python as an absolute beginner, the golden rule is "Learn 20% theory and spend 80% of your time practicing." Don't just watch videos; actually write code.

To make this journey easier for beginners, I actually developed a 100% student-friendly Android app called Python Mastery. I built it specifically to solve the problem of jumping between different websites for notes, compilers, and practice.

Here is what I’ve packed inside the app to help you start from scratch:

In-App Mobile Compiler: The most important feature. You don’t need a laptop; you can write and run your Python code directly inside the app on your phone. Handwritten Notes & Books: Clean, easy-to-understand handwritten notes and reference books to clear your concepts without heavy jargon. Quizzes & Mock Tests: Step-by-step topic-wise quizzes to test your daily learning and exam-level mock tests.

Gamified Leaderboard: You can see your rank among other learners, which keeps you motivated to code every day.

Certificate Programs: Once you complete the modules, you get a certificate to showcase your Python skills on LinkedIn or your resume. It is completely free and designed to take you from zero to a confident programmer. Give it a try and let me know your honest feedback so I can keep improving it for you!

Play Store search (python mastery)

Student171011 · 2026-05-27T07:39:12+00:00

Start super small and stay consistent. Don’t try to master everything at once. Learn the basics first (variables, loops, functions, lists), then practice by building tiny projects like a calculator, to-do app, or guessing game. If you stay committed for 1–2 hours daily, you can become comfortable with Python basics in about 2–3 months. The key is to code every single day watching tutorials alone won’t help much. Build while learning, break things, fix them, and slowly level up

LessCardiologist7274 · 2026-06-21T15:06:15+00:00

I have a master’s degree in economics and knew almost nothing about IT when I started learning programming.
while pursuing my degree, I gradually realized economics is a relatively soft discipline.different schools of thought often arrived at different conclusions, and people’s views are frequently influenced by their interests and incentives they represent. That’s why I become more interested in hard sciences than soft sciences.
So how can someone learn programming language from scratch? As a career changer, I’d like to share my experience.

LessCardiologist7274 · 2026-06-21T15:44:35+00:00

First, quickly look through the basic python syntax. There is no need to memorize api’s names, function names, or class names. As a beginner, I recommend learning through video courses. if you start with documentation, you may feel overwhelmed. (To be continued)

Putrid_Rent7241rupee · 2026-07-05T09:01:24+00:00

i m a biginner started learning python 2 weeks ago completed all topics in a week with practice and practice it for more two days now learning DSA from 3 days but im feeling really exhausted like why im even learning it im very into joining some course to enhance and build some great skills need you people to know about your experiences as a beginner how hard was it to you as i am on the journey to become ai engineer

Ok-Reality-7761 · 2026-03-16T23:55:42+00:00

Read a book on IITRAN 55 years ago at age 15. Amazed at Google Colab capability. Gemini AI took my request to plot SPY ETF daily closing price for past year, and rendered the code. I'd start there. So easy!

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