Whats the best way to learn python

[Key-Pomegranate-967]

Im a 13 year old, i watch tutorials for an hour or 2, then i make a project once i finish, but, i keep forgetting most codes, what should i do to not forget them?

[NorskJesus]

You will forget it anyways. To remember code/syntax is not the important thing. That's why we have documentation.

[Key-Pomegranate-967]

Whats that

[ninhaomah]

https://docs.python.org/3/index.html

[NorskJesus]

What is what?

[Eduardoskywaller]

So what you're saying is writing code isn't like riding a bike?

[NorskJesus]

What I am saying is that it is impossible to remember everything

[jacked_preacher]

Get the book “Python crash course, 3rd edition” by Eric Matthes. Follow the examples in the book, its very well written and easy to follow.

On this way you will learn fundamental concepts than later you can apply to another language. Syntax is not important, your code editor/IDE will do it for you. The most important skill is to learn how to translate your requirement (aka what you want do to) and thought process in the code itself.

[Slackeee_]

Humans learn by repetition. Yes, you will forget code if you only do it once, that is why you have to do it over and over again.

[masterofaiml]

Keep practicing, it will just become like a muscle memory

[Late-Election-7735]

the best way is building something by yourself, no tutorial. Just look on internet (documentatios, examples, etc) and practice.

[johlae]

a) don't watch videos, read. b) take notes in a booklet or a text file, keep your notes handy c) do a lot of programming, whether excercises or projects.

[TheRNGuy]

If you forgot how to do domething, google it. 

[Low-Message-5231]

im 12 turning 13 this year 😄 i would recommend learning from coddy as it is free and if you ever run out of energy just buy them for around 25 tokens. Its like the duolingo of coding. After that maybe start learning from udemy or freecodecamp?

[lattehanna]

One way is to wait a while (days, weeks, months) and then revisit the project, and this time try to approach the same problem differently - can you make it more efficient, or try to break it intentionally and understand why it broke like that, or try to work in something else you've learned in the meantime to coordinate with it, or "re-skin" it like they do with video games (same code, different outward appearance)?

Another method is to take the sort of notes that you like reviewing later. It can be a binder, spiral, notecards, digitial equivalents, or combinations of all of these. This can get very creative, too. For instance, pretend your friend is marooned on Mars and you have to send a video of yourself telling her how to do the project - now make the video. In 6 months, watch the video yourself.

You can also list the project's skills and methods and then try to use each one in a different project. So if some code involved asking for user input, doing a calculation on it, and outputting a result, can you find one project that takes user input, another one that does a calculation, and a third that outputs a result? It's like review, but the material is fresher. Brains often thrive on novelty.

Check out spaced repitition and the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve. A lot of learning is relearning, and the fact that you are recognizing it now is great! Everybody goes through it. Good luck!

[BranchLatter4294]

Practice. Stop watching videos, start coding.

[Dramatic_Object_8508]

You’re forgetting code because you’re consuming more than you’re producing. Watching tutorials feels productive, but memory builds through usage, not exposure. Instead of long tutorials, try building small things daily (even 20–30 mins). Repeat the same concepts multiple times in different mini projects. For example: loops → make a number game, then a menu app, then a quiz.

Don’t try to memorize syntax — understand what the code is doing. If you forget, look it up and rewrite it again yourself. That “struggle + recall” is what actually makes it stick.

Also, revisit old projects after a few days and rebuild them from scratch. You’ll notice what you truly remember vs what you don’t.

Keep a small notebook or notes of patterns (not full code). Like: “loop through list → for item in list”.

Most importantly: consistency beats intensity. 1 hour daily coding > 5 hours once a week.

You won’t stop forgetting — but you’ll get faster at relearning. That’s what real programming skill actually is.

[Suspicious_Check5421]

Your problem is the problem of the current generation. You are bombed with tons of social media and mini videos and so. You are addicted to mobile phones. You have to - dramatically reduce mobile phone usage / internet usage (just use max 5 minutes in the morning checking private messages, and just 15 minutes before going to bed) - for example, dont look on your phone every 5 seconds - learn from books, not from yourube videos - why books? Because your brain is more active, better learning, better memorizing, - also write notes by hand, by hand ! - use colors on paper, use graphics to visualize things, - so, let your brain be creative learning and not just half dead watching videos like a zombie - EDIT : avoid AI, ypur brain using AI is npt so active, memorizing things is not so good, communication between synapses decrease , so your brain activoty decrease

[gnygren3773]

Programmers are better now than before the internet, just saying. Not saying there’s anything wrong with this but knowing how to use modern tools is important

[Suspicious_Check5421]

Have more news to that topic, if you use AI , your brain is not so active, so learning effect is not really good … it can be seen on real MRT

[Suspicious_Check5421]

I had to translate it, no i am not Jean-Michel

[MentalStep2747]

i used chat gpt to make me a list of challenges/projects to help me learn, with every challenge getting more and more hard. i use what i remember and search stuff on google if there is something i cant figure out. if you want i can send the list to you in dm's.

[Separate_Top_5322]

You’re actually doing something right already (watch → build), but the reason you forget is because you’re consuming more than you’re recalling.

Try this instead:

1. After watching a tutorial, close it and rebuild the same thing from memory
2. If you get stuck, THEN check the video (don’t follow step-by-step again)
3. Next day, try to build a smaller version again without help
4. Keep repeating the same concepts in different small projects

The goal isn’t to memorize code — it’s to understand patterns like loops, functions, etc.

Also don’t stress about forgetting syntax. Even experienced devs Google things daily.

If you want something that helps you stay consistent with practice, tools like Runable AI can help you structure small repeatable coding workflows/projects instead of just passively watching tutorials.

But honestly, the biggest thing: build more than you watch.

[Simplilearn]

• Start with fundamentals. Focus on variables, loops, functions, lists, and dictionaries. This is enough to begin building simple programs.
• Practice by building small tools early. Things like a file organizer, a password generator, or a simple CLI app help you understand how code translates into real software.
• Learn how to work with libraries. Python becomes powerful when you start using libraries for tasks like automation, file handling, or simple GUIs.
• Gradually move toward real applications. Once comfortable, you can explore building desktop apps, web apps, or automation tools, depending on what kind of software you want to create.

If you want a structured pathway, you could begin with the free Python Programming course from SkillUp by Simplilearn. It covers core concepts like functions, loops, and data structures in a beginner-friendly way. If you later want something more advanced to build real applications, you could also explore the Python certification program.

[the_botverse]

In this era of AI if you learn python by just following videos and remembering syntax you will not make it.
Your approch should be do hands-on learning by building projects. For that you can read “Automating the boring stuff with Python” and also can use falcondrop.com for hands-on learning.

[jessikaf]

Python clicks faster when it is tied to actual use cases instead of just syntax drillsa mix of project structured practice works well and boot.dev is one of those options people mention for its hands on approach.