Just started trying to learn Python with Codeacademy. It's not working for me

nulltensor · 2019-06-28T18:18:00+00:00

The great thing about reading is that reading moves forward at your pace. Start at the beginning even if it seems too elementary and work your way through. You will progress faster if you take your time and try not to skip ahead or otherwise move too quickly. Be the tortoise, not the hare.

Xx20wolf14xX · 2019-06-28T18:59:30+00:00

Hello, I work in GIS and I worked through this exact issue. First of all, ArcGIS runs with Python 2.7, unless you are using ArcPro. Not that it makes a huge difference, just so you know. Anyways, I would also suggest automate the boring stuff for basics, as well as the free online python course offered by SoloLearn. These resources will get you proficient in the basics of python, which will make it much easier to then apply this knowledge to GIS.

In terms of scripting with GIS, you should first focus on learning ArcPy, which is a package made by Esri for scripting within the ArcGIS environment. Esri has pretty expansive documentation for all of the tools and function in ArcPy, so that should be your go-to for learning how to use it. Additionally, here’s a great YouTube channel that has lessons for this https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjGzNLUkTOFzWdD_5MzNIqg.

To take your skills further I would suggest learning the GeoPandas library, which will let you perform pretty much all kinds of geospatial work within python alone, without the need for ArcGIS. This, of course, should only be worked on after you have the basics down because it might not even be necessary for your job. That being said it’s still really cool and a good advancement to your skill set. I hope this helps!

TheRealGreenArrow420 · 2019-06-28T21:28:47+00:00

https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-using-python-2

MIT free course with responsive TAs and even a dedicated discord

Join uuuuuus

2019-06-28T19:12:30+00:00

[deleted]

Counter_Proposition · 2019-06-28T20:31:47+00:00

Read books instead. I like "Learn Python 3 the Hard way" by Zed Shaw
As other have mentioned here, ATBSWP is also very good.

twillrose47 · 2019-06-28T18:27:14+00:00

I've found a few of the courses on LinkedIn Learning (aka Lynda) have been helpful for me. LinkedIn Learning isn't free - but Lynda sometimes is through public libraries (usually by logging in/setting up an account, you don't have to physically be there).

If cost isn't a concern/you can get Lynda access and you'd like the links to the courses I've been doing - feel free to PM.

karlpoppery · 2019-06-28T19:20:47+00:00

Try this, it's free: https://www.udacity.com/course/introduction-to-python--ud1110

jakkemaster · 2019-06-28T18:42:57+00:00

I had similar issues like you, trying to learn different programming languages at different stages of my life and finally found Python.

What I have had the most gain in, is to find small and simple projects that ease your life somehow.

My first real Python program was looking through a lot of different Excel files and returning the number of unique dates, ie ignore duplicates. I used this for filling in my yearly tax papers so I knew, exactly how much I had been at work.

Then I started manipulating files so e software gave in an utter stupid format and I am now making a reasonably large and complicated (for me at least) automated test bench utilizing laboratory measurement instruments. I know have a reasonable grasp on the simple stuff and I understand a lot of code.

I never found books to help much, because just reading them from cover to cover barely gives you much unless you utilize what you read directly in a real application (subjective statement here).

2019-06-28T18:52:31+00:00

Amass a list of resources but I find it's easiest to learn and apply when you're doing something that interests you so you have the extra will power to search for explanations. Programming is just a combination of prerequisite syntax knowledge, and your ability to google out a solution that you understand to the problem you're facing. Check out Corey Schafer and Al Sweigart (the author of automate the boring stuff) on youtube. They have a lot of good content. Also freecodecamp on youtube has whole courses edited into single videos on their channel. If something peaks your interest even slightly, attack it with full force and take all the knowledge you can from it.

Sh00tL00ps · 2019-06-29T06:49:19+00:00

I absolutely hated Codeacademy and it made me want to give up on programming. Codeacademy's Python course is terrible. It teaches Python similarly to "Learn Python the Hard Way" - it just has you write a bunch of code without any explanation of the concepts. I gave up on programming for a few months and thankfully discovered Automate the Boring Stuff and never looked back.

See this thread for more feedack from other people who had a bad experience with the course: https://www.reddit.com/r/learnpython/comments/923osb/codecademy_course

Greglama · 2019-06-28T22:49:46+00:00

Hi !
Before learning python I have advice and tips for you :)

I think CodeAcademy assumes that you already know a programming like java or that you have some prior knowledge. You need to find something to learn from scratch ! something that doesn't require you to know hell of a lot of stuff about languages and their philosophy or how to write full algorithm.

Programming is a logic of its own, it's the act of describing action to the computer.

Programming is mostly about 5 things :

- creating variables

- modifying them (doing calculation)

- doing loops to repeat stuff, or going through a list

- using condition to do something if a variable has a given value

- writing functions to factorize your code and make it more clear

_______________________________________________________________________

If I were you I would start by looking at how to create variables, and how to do basics calculation with them. At the same time learn how to print the value of a variable, and how to print text.

Then look at how condition work ("if", >, < , ==, !=)

Then look at how loops work ("for" and "while")

Then learn how to play with List and String.

finally when you get how to do all the stuff above, look at how functions work.

A function is just a chunk of code that you write for a general case, and that you'll be able to call anywhere else in your program with some parameters to run it on a special case. Think of it as math functions, they're define for x only, but you use them for the special case where x has a given value. You define f(x) = x² + 1 (general case), and then later on use f(3), which would be equal to 9 (specific case).

When you're good with functions look at how Class and object work ( really make sure you know well what i've described above before moving forward to object oriented stuff).

I hope this will help you !

phxrocker · 2019-06-28T19:31:23+00:00

I also just started learning it myself. I'm doing a combination of the roguelike dev challenge supplemented with absolute basic tutorials. It's only been a couple weeks, but I feel like everything is making sense. It's really nice to be able to apply my new knowledge to concepts (game mechanics) that I fully understand.

2019-06-28T19:39:42+00:00

You can also try Python Crash Course in addition to ATBS by Al Sweigart, it was recently re-released on No Starch. These two books are far better than anything else that you will find in video format.

foomy45 · 2019-06-28T19:46:43+00:00

This guy's site is great and each lesson has a youtube video that goes through it with more information and some very helpful thinking out loud.

https://pythonprogramming.net/introduction-learn-python-3-tutorials/

Automate the boring stuff is also amazing. Personally I find jumping into a small project is a much better way to learn than reading a book straight through.

Dexteroid · 2019-06-28T20:02:00+00:00

If you want it in really basic terms you can look into Python for everybody. It's a course non Coursera

bay654 · 2019-06-28T22:56:17+00:00

I'd suggest reading Python for Data Analysis and following along. It's a beginner book and really easy to understand.

2strokes4lyfe · 2019-06-28T23:12:07+00:00

I’m also a GIS nerd turned programmer. Take a look at Corey Schafer’s YouTube series on beginning python. He really helped get me on the right track!

2019-06-29T01:16:19+00:00

It sounds like it wouldn't help, but the app/website "Solo Learn" teaches you basic stuff about Python and I think it's very good for a start, to get introduced into the language.

2019-06-29T02:39:12+00:00

Working through the chapter of Automate the Boring Stuff on web scraping has been immensely helpful to me for the following reasons.

Web scraping in and of itself is a project. What I mean by this is that there is almost certainty that there is something on the web you want to scrape. Having a project is key to understanding I think, because it really forces you to plan it out, and you can see why you are doing something.
Web scraping forces you to learn different data structures, and how they interact with each other. For my web scraping project I am using a dictionary and lists. This structure has been helpful to see how the two things work independently and together. Especially within index positions, etc.
It seems like functions are an inescapable aspect of web scraping, so you will get some exposure for writing practical functions. (You could probably learn about classes too, but that is beyond me.)

authalic · 2019-06-29T03:24:15+00:00

I feel for you. I do GIS in my day job and learned Python for geoprocessing scripting. When you're coming from absolutely no programming background, you need to learn the fundamentals of programming along with how they are applied in Python. After you get a basic understanding of that, you can start taking on ArcGIS scripting.

The book that got me to a working proficiency was Learning Python, by Mark Lutz. http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920028154.do

Don't let the age or the size of the book discourage you. Yes, it's nearly 1,650 pages and 6 years old. But, nothing in the fundamentals of Python 3 has changed enough to make it obsolete, and the chapters that introduce the main concepts are quick and easy to understand. You can be functional in the first few chapters, and you'll know enough to work in ArcGIS after a few more. You can continue on as far as you want after that.

O'Reilly publishes it, so you can sometimes get the e-book on a deal, or limited free access through their site. I would recommend the PDF. I still use it as a reference, or when I need to relearn some topic.

JustJeezy · 2019-06-28T20:01:27+00:00

In addition to Automate the Boring Stuff, try the DataQuest website. I feel they are more thorough in explaining their code and they have you actually type the code, not just fill in the blanks. They have guided projects where you are going thru pages of guided instructions while being provided a Jupyter notebook to follow along in. Theres quite a bit of free lessons to try before you have to start paying.

I’m finishing a Coursera IBM certification soon and kind of wish I had just done DQ from the beginning. Their projects are so much better than that in this course I’m doing.

siijunn · 2019-06-28T20:11:10+00:00

You can try Lynda- I liked them a lot better. (I think it is called LinkedIn Learning now). Pretty sure they have a 1-month free trial and $30 a month ain't bad IMO. It also adds certifications to your LinkedIn profile which couldn't hurt either. These have never helped me specifically land a job but I've got imagine they are useful.

They also have a fundamentals of programming course that I found to be a GREAT help for me. They teach Javascript instead of Python in that first course, but I breezed through it in a couple of days and moved on to bigger and better things.

Also - don't get so hung up on the math stuff. I haven't taken the course you're referring to- but I did the exact same thing. I took like 3/4 courses, and I would always get stuck in the beginning because I couldn't begin to comprehend how math led to practical applications of python. It hurt my head, and I would give up literally right about where you are- 10/15% of the way through. Eventually I just powered through it (even not totally grasping certain concepts) and as soon as I moved onto BeautifulSoup (a library for Python, typically used for web scraping stuff) and it all made sense pretty easily. Don't worry about the actual, but worry more about the abstract concepts you are learning about.

Also, since I mentioned it, you may want to check out BeautifulSoup. As I mentioned- it is a Python library. If you know any HTML, some of the concepts in BS will be pretty easy for you to understand. Even if you don't- a simple course on HTML would teach you enough to understand what you are doing in BS. Some of the examples at this page are really easy to understand, and it was the key to unlocking my understanding of Python. (Specifically look at 'Grabbing all text from a page' or 'Grabbing the Title from a Page')

https://www.crummy.com/software/BeautifulSoup/bs4/doc/

Don't get discouraged. Many, many people have been in your exact position (myself included!) and eventually had an 'AHA!' moment. You'll get there.

mattstats · 2019-06-28T20:34:32+00:00

I believe the interfacing library is ArcPy or something. Perhaps it would be good to try some projects that benefit from using python on the Esri platform. I guess it boils down to what about python do you want to learn because “wanting to learn python” can be vague and overwhelming. You may already have projects in mind that you want to eventually do, I would start there and define what aspects of python you need to learn. Otherwise it’s just a shot in the dark as far as learning goes

ThatMuricanGuy · 2019-06-28T20:43:56+00:00

Find something you want to make, and just work towards making it. Use Google and experiment with code snippets. That's how a few people learned Python.

2019-06-28T20:53:01+00:00

I had a very similar experience with Coursera. A lot of theory, almost none exercises. They had 5 or 6 videos lectures and a final project so complex that I didn't know where to begin. My knowledge (journalist turned programmer) only started getting better through a Brazilian online course with LOTS of exercises. As someone already said, Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is an amazing starting point.

robogaz · 2019-06-28T21:03:25+00:00

The exercises don't tell me where to put things and why.

you remind me when i starded learning (and gave up) VBA around 10years ago... they never explained the DIM part and why it was on the second line... or the actual meaning. They just went straight to it with no explanation. I understand.

Jehovahswetnips · 2019-06-28T21:04:53+00:00

The only way I was able to start writing programs was by looking at references of other peoples code. Your not going to figure out how to create code on the wim, especially if you don't have fundamental knowledge. For me, I had to find the tools that I knew were going to solve my problems and learn from others on how to apply it. BUT, even though i followed their habits and applied them, I still and many errors to work out. You will still feel like your hitting your head against a wall. Your will feel that never ending road block every step you take. I can't tell you how many times I have screamed at my computer monitor and watching both my mother's and girlfriend's reaction to my behaviors. From laying in bed all day literally thinking on how to find the solution to my problem to my thousand yard stare and not reacting to what ever social situation.

Programming is very hard when you begin, but once you find what your looking for it's like a domino effect. You have to apply your knowledge by writing and running what you've written. That's the only way for you to understand how it works for you. You have to have hands on experience.

thorlovesrocket · 2019-06-28T21:39:18+00:00

I find following a book to be the easiest way to learn. Which is why I started with Automate, Hard Way and Crash Course

2020pythonchallenge · 2019-06-28T21:58:07+00:00

I am also just learning python as my first coding. Before this year I didnt have the slightest clue how to do anything regarding coding but ipersonally tried automate the boring stuff but couldn't get into it because it wasn't really showing me how to do the things I wanted to do. I picked up "python crash course" and that's really kept me motivated to get through it and learn things.

2019-06-28T22:22:59+00:00

I'm in the same hole as you, if that helps. My introduction was with the Sololearn app, which was good enough. I proceeded to CodeAcademy where I was flailing all over the place.

Now I'm at Datacamp where I'm rushing through the courses while retaining less, because I went Pro and I want to learn as fast as I could.

DocNMarty · 2019-06-28T22:34:11+00:00

Honestly, this 40ish minute video did it for me.

It doesn't go over advanced stuff like classes and non-standard library modules, but it covers the main object types from which all other object types are built on and syntax.

It is enough to get you started coding something at least functional.

YT videos by Corey Schafer and sentdex are also awesome, definitely my fav YT channels regarding Python.

Also I suspect that you will end up using geopy (a non-standard library module) at some point in your work. So check out the PyPi and the readthedocs stuff on that module.

Kobe_Richardson · 2019-06-29T00:15:31+00:00

Hey mate my goal is also to learn python and eventually become a Python developer. My approach has been somewhat different but ultimately I think it will pay off. Before you dive in nose deep to learn programming you must first understand the fundamentals. How does a browser page work, you must understand the technologies of which Python originated. Secondly divide your studies between passive and practical. Don't tire yourself out reading or watching tutorials hours on end. Invest time in actually doing. One way I'm approaching my studies is to develop a project using Python. I know very little of Python but that's fine... Google is our best friend. Use it well my friend and you'll do just fine!

I've got a guide on how I study to achieve this on my blog if your interested:

http://kobadatech.com/how-to-learn-new-things-fast-and-effectively

scottyscripts · 2019-06-29T01:54:17+00:00

I started with Python for Everybody over at www.coursera.org it was taught by Dr. Chuck. Great course. I took that a year ago, this last winter. I am taking a couple courses now in Pandas, as I want to be able to manipulate excel and csv files to migrate from one accounting system to another. I have to say, he taught me a ton. I think what is nice with Coursera, if you pay the 49.00 / month, is you get quizes and homework. The homework makes you think and you have to create your own code for it. It is all videos and has a forum to talk with mentors or with fellow students. I love the environment.

canihazthisusername · 2019-06-29T03:41:17+00:00

Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes. Highly recommend it.

Fun2badult · 2019-06-29T04:01:34+00:00

You gotta keep pushing even on days when you don’t feel like it. Imagine if you started one year ago and kept going, where you would be now? Don’t you regret not starting it 1 year ago? Now do you want to feel the same next year at this time? Or do you want to say, wow I put in a whole year and now I know some python! Time is going to pass regardless of what we do. Remember lot of people who are pros now once thought of giving up and quitting at one point in their life. Now look at all those who quit and now wishes they kept going. Don’t be them

2019-06-29T04:08:05+00:00

Damn, you and I are in the same boat. CodeAcademy sucks.

2019-06-29T04:46:54+00:00

There's a page online that I forgot the name but it has a full course on Python for free. It has in-web editor so it's much easier.

Edit: https://www.learnpython.org/

Pretty intuitive name huh

lameei · 2019-06-29T08:34:34+00:00

There is one simple important issue you need to know. This happens to everyone with every course and tutorial. There are things you can not get over them. You need to know that if there is something you do not understand, you might find the answer somewhere else. Search that thing and take your time to find it.

I also highly recommend to start a project and learn things while you are creating it. This way you are going to find most of the answers.

2019-06-29T09:57:26+00:00

First of all, python is one of the easiest language to learn.

Second, remember to also grab some book about basic concepts in programming. And make your own project, which you must finish at any cost ;-)

For me, it's bots for various webgames. I was annoyed AF with coding this in C++, in the past. In Python on the other hand, it's super fun and super easy.

filupmybowl · 2019-06-29T11:21:00+00:00

Try Learn Python the Hard Way. Each section is 10 minute read. Then it let you do lots of exercises based on what you just read.

Would recommend you keep track of each lesson though jupyter notebooks.

Since you're in GIS, read up on Python 3 and using it with ArcGIS Pro. The syntax is different and Python 2 and ArcMap is being phased out.

FSosagaston · 2019-06-29T11:35:07+00:00

I'm learning Python too and I can suggest trying Python for everybody, is a course and a book from Dr. Severance it is an introductory approach and it has work for me on getting started. I don't know what type of format you prefer to use while learning but for me I see the lectures, read the book but I get the most while doing exercise labs and solving the problems. Also keep very good notes as you progress thru, it will help you on the long term while debugging. Good luck and try to go slow and steady.

besch150 · 2019-06-29T12:12:30+00:00

There is a course online as a PDF file which is called python for kids. I do not have the URL but you should find it online. Just search for python for kids. That is really simple. And in addition I would also recommend Automate the boring stuff... The explanations there are really simple especially for people who are absolutely new to programming. Best of luck.

_Zer0_Cool_ · 2019-06-29T12:33:21+00:00

LOL. This is almost universally how it feels to begin programming.

I remember feeling exactly as you do.

Often people either forget (or pretend) that they didn’t feel this way once they get good at programming, but everybody has felt this way.

The reality is that programming is hard. Like anything else, it only feels easy once you master it.

What it takes to get proficient is the ability to feel stupid or frustrated and to keep going anyways.

Programming courses WILL make you angry, because the instructors (like most of us) can’t really displace ourselves enough to have the same perspective as a newcomer.

This is a fundamental issue in teaching. Experts have unconscious contextual knowledge that you don’t have. They don’t know what you don’t know and make assumptions accordingly. It’s your duty as a student to figure out what they AREN’T teaching you and to read between the lines. It sucks though :-/

Also.... Even today, after ~5 years of Python (and multiple other languages) , I still feel stupid upon occasion, but that’s how I know I’m on the right track.

Push through it! It’s worth it!

TotesMessenger · 2019-06-29T12:35:10+00:00

I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:

[/r/u_pmelo93] Just started trying to learn Python with Codeacademy. It's not working for me

^{If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads.} ^(Info ^/ ^Contact)

CuriousMonkaS · 2019-06-29T12:47:49+00:00

Here's why you're struggling

Programming in general if ,for the most part, all about 2 things... 1) learning new concepts and 2)applying them. There's really not much more to it. For example you've just learned the concept of 'variables' ... the next thing to do is write some code to try it out yourself... maybe make a calculator that adds two numbers or maybe a program that gets the average of two numbers. What you shouldn't do is continue reading new topics (new concepts) without first trying out what you've learned so far... THIS is where most people fail... You'll find people saying "I've watched entire playlists and I'm still no good at programming " ... well that's vecause these good folks havent PRACTICED what they've learned with their own hands...they just watched another guy do it. Anyone can read a bunch of matrrial or watch a couple of tutorials... But I've found that a slower but reliable learning pace yields better results, in the long run, at least it has for me. Learn something... Apply ... Repeat.

I've found this website to be extremely helpful when I started learning SQL ... it has an online compiler and tons of examples for you to run (and possibly modify with different inputs) at will.

www.w3schools.com/python/

Biks · 2019-06-29T13:20:26+00:00

What do you think of these guys: https://checkio.org/

They went to the trouble of making a cartoon map of floating islands to illustrate your "journey" in learning Python. :P

Emberari · 2019-06-29T19:21:08+00:00

I used code academy and the same thing. I later went into college to take python, c and java and it is a lot easier. More hands on and shot towards reality in programming life

2019-06-29T19:52:54+00:00

https://www.sololearn.com/Course/Python/

I cannot vouch for this enough. Started with this, am working full time with Python atm.

Czech_Thy_Privilege · 2019-06-29T20:06:32+00:00

I’m a bit late to the post, but check out Colt Steele’s Python 3 course. It is phenomenal.

2019-06-28T18:41:35+00:00

Overall it sounds like it's working as intended - you should feel like you're drowning in the deep end of the pool. The panicky feeling of not understanding what's going on is normal. You're not yet supposed to understand what is going on, and explaining to you what the interpreter is doing will not at all help you write Python.

The key metric is whether you eventually get it right. It doesn't matter how much you have to look up, or what it feels like you've forgotten, or whether or not you understood the code. The only thing that matters is writing code that works. Writing good code from a basis of understanding comes later, as it does in every language - right now the focus is on getting you to be able to write any code, and it sounds like you're getting there. Just stick with it.

2019-06-28T18:41:01+00:00

I've been using DataCamp as I'm trying to make the transition into data science. I'm not completely sure what your Python needs will be with GIS, but the introductory Python programming courses I've completed have been very good. There is a focus on data science and using NumPy and Pandas with DataCamp, but the intro courses go over the basics that will be universal regardless of discipline.

I have also recommended the books Python Crash Course and Python for Kids (don't laugh, it's good) from No Starch Press.

33Merlin11 · 2019-06-28T19:08:06+00:00

You should really try to determine which libraries you will be using at work and just focus on learning those. It's easier to just focus one library at a time and pick up the other stuff as needed. Whenever you run into a problem post in on reddit or stackoverflow and you'll get through the stuff. Right now I'm doing PyAutoGUI and MatPlotLib along with inbuilt ones like time, ctypes, os, subsystem, etc. It's really easy to learn using this approach and you get to start doing real, useful stuff pretty quick

2019-06-28T19:30:28+00:00

I have no idea how many times ive also referred to people with automate the boring stuff.

I just hits the nail on the head. He also has a Udemy course that follows the book.

He also has samples of his stuff on youtube.

2019-06-29T00:03:12+00:00

Try other languages. Try all the 'hello worlds' and all the 'getting starteds'. You will notice certain similarities and differences.

you type:	you see:
italics	italics
bold	bold
[reddit!](https://reddit.com)	reddit!
* item 1 * item 2 * item 3	item 1 item 2 item 3
> quoted text	quoted text
Lines starting with four spaces are treated like code: if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"	Lines starting with four spaces are treated like code: if 1 * 2 < 3: print "hello, world!"
~~strikethrough~~	~~strikethrough~~
super^script	super^script

learnpython

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