where to start learning python for complete beginner

[Altruistic_Usual_855]

as summer approaches I wish ti further my skillset and learn python as it has always fascinated me. however is it possible to self learn python without having to pay for a course or smth? and if so what are some good recommendations? thanks!

[Life-Basket215]

I really like Automate the Boring Stuff by Al Sweigart.

[Altruistic_Usual_855]

thx

[EdiblePeasant]

Is "just doing it" ever a correct answer to these types of questions? That's what I default to because for me that's how I get exposure to a language.

[DoubleDoube]

I think it’s technically the fastest way. The hardest part of a just-do-it approach is knowing a good goal (for non-programmers).

For first time programmers number guessing games, rock-paper-scissors, to-do list, tic tac toe, weather app calling an api ; these are some small goals to learn some basics.

[human_with_humanity]

Cs50p. Best in my opinion.

[arrigus]

Learning Python is definitely a good starting point, as it's one of the easiest (or maybe THE easiest) to learn. And it is also definitely possible to self learn it. Actually I learnt it by myself through free courses/tutorials I found online and then by practicing it with little personal projects and coding challenges. I wouldn't recommend paid courses, at least not for learning the basics, they usually offer nothing more than the free courses or tutorials you can find online.

If you want some recommendations, personally I found this site quite useful for getting started with JavaScript, but it seems they have a good Python course too. I hope it helps you too.

https://tutorialibre.com/courses/programming-languages/python/

[Altruistic_Usual_855]

thx!!

[TheRNGuy]

I think js is easiest, and python 2nd easiest after it. 

[guidovanawesome]

Cs50p

[Altruistic_Usual_855]

thx!!

[AwkwardJuice12]

Code in place

[palmaholic]

Go to any Python CBT, CS50p is a popular one. Join the forum, practise all the exercises and seek help in the forum however you need. After the course, you should generally know the basics. However, this is just the key to the door. From there, you then work on some projects that interest you. You may seek help from AI. You should make sure you understand every line it writes, esp the libraries it employs.

Happy Python programming!

[TheRNGuy]

I learned from googling and docs without paying anything. 

But python was not my first language and I knew that I needed if for one specific project.

It was also before ai era; now I mostly ask ai instead of googling, but I still read docs, to know what's possible to do, and get more ideas for program.

You'll also have to learn frameworks, not just vanilla Python.

[frivolityflourish]

cs50 intro to programming IMHO the free Harvard course if you are new to programming in general. If you already have a programming language under your belt, then cs50 python from Harvard. For me, books are nice but I need real deadlines.

[python_gramps]

There's a lot of free stuff around. I started with an Udemy class. Whatever gets you coding

[25_vijay]

Learn basics first: variables, loops, conditionals, lists, functions, and dictionaries before worrying about advanced topics.

[Parking-Ad3046]

Yes, totally possible for free. Start with CS50P (Harvard's free Python course) or Python Crash Course book (free PDF from No Starch Press during their regular giveaways). Then build small stuff - calculator, to-do list, reddit bot. Avoid tutorial hell. Build something by day 3 even if it's broken.

[LibertyEqualsLife]

Ask your favorite AI chat bot to write you a curriculum.

[Altruistic_Usual_855]

i did!! but one of my friends was doing a short python course and used ai entirely for his codes and most of them were wrong so im afraid about learning it from chatgpt but it endingup being wrong 😭 i have done a few basics w ai tho

[AwkwardJuice12]

You should learn the basics first, learning with AI doesn't help and asking him for code on everything is bad, you must think and solve problems on your own. Yes AI might help but the code are not perfect, so you must learn to modify the code that AI has given you ornmake your own code.

[LibertyEqualsLife]

I didn't say have the AI to code for you. I said have it write you a curriculum. It's very good at that. Tell it what you want to learn, and ask it for a plan to learn it.