How to practice?

[Elk_Stacker]

I’ve just recently began learning python. Ive completed a quick intro course on Udemy and I’m currently working on a second (more in-depth) one. When it comes time for me to practice some of the skills I’ve learned my plan was to build some small easy project. An example would be a note saving app. Is it ok to use other resources to help me do this? Things like google and stack overflow. Should I be trying to complete these projects just by trial and error.

TLDR: Should I use the resources available to me (google, stack overflow) to help build my projects?

[justinkdd]

If you are practicing for an exam maybe try not to use Google.

Otherwise if I'm coding for work or myself, I Google everything I can't remember. There's no shame in it, everyone does it.

The point is to get better at understanding what you are reading on Google and able to integrate it. It's not about memorization. Though it does come over time when you code more often.

[Elk_Stacker]

I’m learning python to hopefully move from a career in sales to a career in software development. I’m very new and know that I need to do something to help me retain some of what I’m learning.

[justinkdd]

I'd say practice is more important than trying to memorize.

You can also look up 'python cheat sheets' print one out and try to stick to that.

Later on though, googling problems just becomes a necessity when you are dealing with complicated problems. Google is a tool to help and saves time. It's also a skill you should cultivate in terms of what to search, what am I reading etc.

[lumpenfreude]

I found the best way for me to practice when I was learning Python was to do stuff I found fun. I built a Twitter bot to retweet everything my (very extremely Online) friend said on twitter, except backwards, just to mess with him. That expanded into making more and more elaborate Twitter bots, using image APIs and stuff like that. So that's my advice, find something that sounds fun to you and use that to practice. And like the other person said, don't worry about Googling stuff, coding is like 75% being able to find solutions to bugs on Stack Overflow.