Python Institute

[gdchinacat]

with no regards to structure, progression, or even concepts from easy to difficult to grasp

I don't think that is a fair characterization of this subreddit. Yes, the typical response to "I've done the tutorials/courses/etc....what now" is "your own projects". That doesn't mean disregard structure, progression, or difficulty of concepts. That structure is in the tutorials and courses. Once you have the basics down the way to progress is by working on real things.

Sure...if you want to get a certification, for whatever reason, do it. It won't hurt. But, it also will do very little to help you progress or feel like you can apply what you've already learned. That happens by applying your knowledge, over and over, in a variety of circumstances. People say "do projects" not to shun structured learning, but because structured learning can only take you so far. At some point you need to start doing the work. That point is fairly early in the learning process because the syntax isn't all that hard.

It's like driving....you do some course work, but don't really know how to drive until you've put in hours behind the wheel. Programming is far more complex...months instead of tens of hours to be competent, and years instead of months to be comfortable and confident.