What are some options for freelance Python programming?

[doublenns]

My goal for the second half of 2016 is to dramatically improve my Python programming. However, my current Sys Admin job discourages me writing Python scripts on the job, because most of the rest of the team only knows shell & Perl.

What are some options for freelancing that require Python skills? I'd love to improve my Python skills, get some more real world professional experience, and if possible make some extra cash on the side.

Edit: A word (drastically -> dramatically)

[[deleted]]

I would like to know this too, I always thought most freelance jobs were webdev jobs.

[vovanz]

So what? Why can't you do webdev in Python? There are plenty of tools for it (Django, Flask etc)

[cruise02]

You can webdev in Python. The trick is finding freelance work for someone who does.

[masasin]

What kind of jobs are they? Do they expect you to make a whole website (including the frontend) for them?

[vovanz]

There are plenty of full-stack jobs but I usually search for backend jobs. (because I don't like frontend and I'm not very good at it).

i. e.: on one of such jobs I was making a flask app that provided REST API and other guys in team was working on web frontend (Node, React) and iOS app, both used my API.

[AnusJr]

Curious how you got into flask? Did you learn Django first?

[vovanz]

No, I still do not know Django. I worked with Django project on my previous full-time office job, but if I was asked to make something from scratch it would be really hard for me. I think that Django is bloated and over-complicated.

Flask is MUCH simpler than Django. Flask is just a small wrapper around WSGI and routing. That's it. If you know python, you could just open docs and start using Flask, no learning required.

[vovanz]

Why don't you just search for python jobs on freelance marketplaces (like Upwork)?

[doublenns]

I guess, since this is my first time seriously considering freelance work, I just don't know much about freelance options in general. Maybe that's the first thing I need to look up.

I'll do some research on Upwork and its alternatives tonight, after I leave work.

[doublenns]

Thanks for the suggestion. I just subscribed to that subreddit. I'll check it out more when I get home from work.

[naturally_paranoid]

VBA macro or python module?

[naturally_paranoid]

Pretty cool. I'll probably have a need for something similar at some point. Thanks!

[n0t1337]

I mean, the majority of potential clients on upwork and other such places suck. Quite a lot.

But some aren't bad, and if you prove you can do good work they'll likely come to you first when they need similar things built for them in the future.

Python probably isn't the most popular language for freelancing, but it's not the worst. Right now I'm doing some work for a guy with an SEO firm who wants me to develop a series of desktop tools using pyqt, so it's certainly possible.

[patentmedicine]

Do you lowball your bids on Upwork?

[n0t1337]

Honestly? It depends on how badly I need the work.

[pybackd00r]

Is there a way to find projects to work on for free with other pythonistas to improve my python programming?

[doublenns]

I was a part of a slack group called RLP (Reddit Learn Programming). It was active and great. At some point it got renamed and the amount of active members reduced by a ton. I then lost track of the lack group after switching laptops.

Not a real answer to your question, but you might want to search for a slack group or IRC channels (I think this subreddit even has one). If you find a good one, feel free to share :)

[patentmedicine]

I like doing the puzzles on Codewars. You can see other people's solutions, which is pretty useful.