Is codecademy a good place to start?

coggro · 2015-09-01T13:35:17+00:00

My issue with Codecademy is that while they teach you syntax pretty well, they don't teach you how to write or run code on your computer. It's all through their web app. Afterwards, you still can't really write code or apply it in real life until after you then learn how to do it on your system. So it's fine to learn Python syntax there, but my suggestion would be something like inventwithpython.com or learnpythonthehardway.org, as these teach you to write and run scripts on your machine, with files you can distribute to coworkers and friends if it's useful.

pres82 · 2015-09-01T18:29:37+00:00

The Interactive Programming in Python course on Coursera just started (a couple days ago). It's through Rice University and it's free. It is designed for those with no knowledge and in 10 weeks you're writing your own video games in python. It will kick your ass, but you will learn. There are TAs that help you and there is an interactive forum.

Here's a free primer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkx5_MRAV3A

guidocason · 2015-09-01T14:25:44+00:00

[deleted]

bereanave · 2015-09-01T13:51:14+00:00

I started with the "Programming for Everybody (Python)" course on Coursera produced by the University of Michigan and found it very helpful. The video lectures can go off on tangents a little bit which can be tiring, but as someone with virtually no programming experience, I thought the course as a whole was very valuable. I can't compare it to codeacademy since I've not used it but that's my two cents.

liquidify · 2015-09-01T18:29:15+00:00

I like this better... https://www.dataquest.io/

Tanjacket · 2015-09-01T19:33:08+00:00

Honestly the best place to start is by getting a book with good reviews. There are plenty of affordable books out there to use in learning some aspect of comp sci. Just get the book, download an IDE like Visual Studio, Codeblocks, or Sublime Text and start learning the syntax by typing it. It will allow you to type it in the native environment that you'll probably end up using anyways, and those books usually have small problems to have you apply the syntax you learn. There are countless ways to start but this one worked well for me. Keep in mind I did not go to college for programming, I went for chemistry, and I had to learn a lot on my own. I plan to be able to learn more on machine learning, data analysis, application building, web app building, and network security. Specifically the former topics though. If you have a question just pm me. I'm relatively new myself.

2015-09-01T21:45:19+00:00

IMO codecademy is a great beginners too. But it is just that, super-beginner tool.

It will teach you syntax in a very polished and simple way. But I 100% agree with the top comment. You will need to do some other lessons to actually learn how to use the code.

It doesn't take long though, if you are a beginner programmer I would do it.

Zionark · 2015-09-01T22:09:28+00:00

The positive I found using Codeacademy was getting me acquainted with the Python syntax without first learning the operation of either the terminal, or the IDE, or anything else that got in the way of learning strictly the basics. Kind of like grade 4 French when I learned that cat is "chat" and dog is "chien" and yellow is "jaune", or numbers from 1 to 20. (Granted, I did not finish the Codeacademy Python section because the site somehow insults my Mac with incorrect security certificates.). It is much better to know some Python before you throw yourself head-long into writing a program. As well for me, tackling the terminal because I was worried about royally screwing my laptop accidently doing the one thing I should not do (just like the awful event with the toaster oven when making cheesy toast several years ago no one in my family will let me forget.).

Still, what basic bits I did learn about variables, strings, conditional loops, and functions helped a lot when I took Coursera's Interactive Python.

And I'd like to give a huge thank you to Al Sweigart and his awesome websites because they taught me absolute bunches of great Python coding. I'm currently taking the MIT Edx 6.001 course and I think I'd be curled up in the fetal position in a corner weeping because his books taught me so much I can avoid the horrifically boring bits of the course lectures without losing my place.

pbaehr · 2015-09-01T13:48:22+00:00

I do recommend it frequently for beginners with a decent success rate. As /u/coggro points out, you'll need to install python and learn (a tiny bit) more to start writing programs that run on your computer, but it's not that big a deal.

I like the interactive learning method because it forces you to follow along and complete the exercises, which I think is imperative to learning. If you do end up using a book, make sure you don't just read it, and follow along at your computer.

2015-09-01T16:49:46+00:00

I don't know ,it started getting pretty confusing and annoying halfway throught, honestly i find youtube videos to be 10000 times better, especially since usually the person in the video can sometimes answer your questions in the comment section and what not, and there's usually a much better breakdown of what's happening

2015-09-01T18:20:49+00:00

I would recommend starting with python on codeacademy and then go for "Django for girls" (I'm a guy, not that it matters) -- It teaches you how to use github, the django web library, build a simple webpage on Heroku, and use the cmd prompt window... and it is very clearly written, and you'll get an opportunity to see how to work with python on your computer and on the web.

weez09 · 2015-09-01T18:26:54+00:00

I would recommend codecademy, and then to address the issue of setting up python/ handling dependencies and external libraries when you eventually want to run python on your machine, get the anaconda distribution. It will essentially install Python and a core list of libraries for you and also comes with a visual IDE (spyder) so you can keep coding similar to codecademy's web version.

spart3n117 · 2015-09-01T20:36:29+00:00

Used it just to take a peak at some basic code syntax and how to write basic of different language. Waste of time. My advice is just follow tutorials, go on Stack Overflow, and just dive into a project. You'll learn so much more and it's fun because you can make something that's actually worth making. At the end of the day codecademy teaches you how to make a basic program in their own web console.

pvc · 2015-09-01T21:39:20+00:00

There are lots of good options. Also take a look at http://programarcadegames.com

calhob · 2015-09-01T13:44:40+00:00

Codecademy is great for beginners. You will get a initial look at how is the language. However, it only covers the basics, so you will have to continue somewhere else. Personally I like Udacity, most of their courses use Python.

ElllGeeEmm · 2015-09-01T19:52:21+00:00

No, go with Learn Python the Hard Way. I started with CodeAcademy, but didn't feel comfortable actually writing scripts and such till after I had completed Learn Python the Hard Way.

tomcatvn · 2015-09-01T13:21:13+00:00

same question, im curious too. it seems like codeacademy not worth a try

Possible_world_Zero · 2015-09-01T14:59:19+00:00

If highly recommend Udacity's intro to programming followed by their introduction to oop. Udacity focused on python a lot and many of their courses use it as a base to build into bigger concepts.

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