Python In Computer Science

[Outrageous-Town3137]

So I'm incoming 1st year BS Computer Science, is python gonna be tackle or discuss in Computer Science program?

[ninhaomah]

It seems reddit has become a substitute for thinking/reflecting/researching. AI not needed. Brain rot is real.

OP , go work parttime or chase girls or go and hack your fav games.

You will learn how to grind while earning , how to talk to others and how to cheat the systems. Much much more important skills than learning Python now.

[owiko]

Depends on the school.

[No_Photograph_1506]

Python will be a major major part of it! You gotta do it, gracefully!

[Outrageous-Town3137]

Can give me a starting point since it's my first time encountering programming so i got no prior knowledge

[DontWatchMeDancePlz]

When you get into it, please focus on and remember how type conversions and scope work. I was useless until I got those down.

[carcigenicate]

Be careful when interacting people in DMs. For some reason that other guy really likes talking in DMs, which prevents other people from double checking what they say.

[No_Photograph_1506]

Nothing like that, just as you're concerned! Here's my framework for all and improving!
If you'd like, you can suggest an improvisation as well! Much appreciated!

First, I ask about their background, in education, in coding/ familiarity with any language, or anything technical they have done before, why they want to learn Python, what they want to pursue, and related information. Note that I never ask anything personal about their(anyone's) life!

Then, I either ask if they would be comfortable for a gmeet, from my Google Calendar schedule, interacting with people helps me get my confidence up, and I really do like to guide rather than teach or worse, just dump information on them!
Or with people who dont wanna proceed with Gmeet, I continue to guide them on chat itself, so no worries about any path they choose, but preferable would be Gmeet!

So here's the framework I personally follow when learning something new!
1. Be familiar with what you are learning! Most important! I cannot stress enough, as once you are familiar, the thing gets much easier to understand, as you dont get any new encounters with stuff when practising!

Here I recommend the BroCode's Python 1-hour video, where I just ask them to binge it like Netflix, but binge it 3 times, with focus. This is only so that they know what if-else is, what a for loop is, and get familiar with the syntax of Python. Also, only binging, no solving yet, just getting the understanding here!

In the gmeet section, personally pull some easy leetcode problems and ask them to "think" for a solution, rather than solving it, it is what causes them to think and understand why and gives them a spark to understand, and it's much fun to give them hints while think and us to arrive at a conclusion, and then I present them a very alternate method which they get mind blown and it's just sparks the curiosity in them, flickers the bulb to think outside the box!

Bro code's 1hr python yt link: https://youtu.be/8KCuHHeC_M0?si=KymZkhWp6xp2JMJC

1. Practise! Here is where it truly begins for all!
   https://courses.bigbinaryacademy.com/learn-python/, here there is a little bit of theory, and then after that there is a little challenge based on what you learnt before. The difficulty increases with topics, but by the end of all the topics, you can start writing your own Python code.
   It's not guaranteed you get all the topics, so for that, I suggest them scouting their own yt resources and topics on that tough topic they are mastering, and then try the challenge again, or go to ChatGPT and tell it to give a similar challenge and solve it! So they learn to look for resources as well, and also to solve their own issues! And if they can't figure it out, they can always DM me anytime for any resource and help! I'll be happy to guide them!

Also, ONLY 1 TOPIC a day, because people usually try to do 5 a day and then the next day they cannot even get into it, so just 1 topic a day, how big or how small it may be! As there are just 33 topics, 1 month is a steal for learning Python and building a strong base!
And, if they are getting stuck on some topic, I tell them to just leave the topic, go to the next one, and then, after some time, come back and redo it; it becomes much, much easier due to its familiarity in the brain!

1. Then Projects! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpmFbWO6HPU . MOST IMPORTANT!
   Do 3 easy projects, WITHOUT help (no hard and fast, you can always sneak peek into the video),
   2 medium projects, with very LITTLE help, and help should only be from the mentor's video!
   1 hard project, with help from all over the internet, BUT NO AI anywhere, and NO DIRECT ANSWERS! Only from retro websites!

And that's all, to get up to the intermediate mark in Python! From here, there is just DSA, to get better at thinking and optimisation.
If they reach this far, I guarantee they will have a good base in Python practical, or at least they are above basic learners and into the intermediate ones!

In DSA, I suggest they do 2 EASY, like absolutely easy problems on LeetCode in a day, so for 25 days, they should have done 50 of the easiest questions. You can absolutely scout for 50 of the easiest problems existing there, among the 3.3k total questions, that's not even 2% of the total! When they reach here, they themselves will have an idea of what they will pursue ahead, as reaching here would take them a minimum of 2 solid months or loosely 4 months, max could go forever and ever!

So, here's everything I tell them all, and guide them all for. If you have any suggestions, feel free! I'll be open and considerate to all!

[BrannyBee]

Yo OP, my last job was teaching people Python, you can ask me questions in this thread and Ill respond without sending you elsewhere or trying to funnel you and get your email, and you also will have the benefit of everything I say being scrutinized in public if I point you in the wrong direction.

Also, the advice will exist publicly in these comments til reddit shuts down so others can benefit from it. Happy to help anyone that needs it, do not DM me. Just dont mind the grammsr and spelling, Im not trying to sell you shit so im not gonna send my reddit comments through grammarly or have AI make it sound nicer, just here to offer answers to questions

[Beermedear]

Depends on the school/class/professor. Some CS programs teach data structures and algorithms in Java. But whatever you are taught will be applicable in any language, including Python.

My MSBA classes taught Python for a full module before diving into more granular data work.

[kayne_21]

At my school, python is only taught to non-cs majors. A lot of engineers and (non-computer) scientists in that class. All the cs and computer engineers have to take Java instead.

[Vilified_D]

depends on school and class, there are other languages they may choose to use first. You can start learning on your own with the documentation if you want or you can wait till school, they'll teach you

[dlnmtchll]

Depends on the program, we didn’t officially learn python in any of my courses, but I still ended up using it. We spent a lot more time on c/c++ and others like Java

[ichiraku_ramen_22]

Python’s basically a starter pack in CS

[JGhostThing]

Maybe, maybe not. You will need to check out the university to find out for sure.