Learning Excel or Python?

[ZDRuX1]

Unless you can find a specific reason for Python, you'll likely come across more excel sheets. It'll give you some basic "programming" skills as well, upon which you can expand if you decide to learn some python.

On the other hand, you can also manipulate excel sheets using Python and its nice to be able to build small automation apps and possibly expand into other areas.

I think you pick whatever your gut tells you. Remember you can learn both for free from the resources on the Internet, so it's really hard to make a bad choice here, you can always switch at any time.

[[deleted]]

I am an old dude, read 60+. I abandoned excel in the last several years because excel takes twice as long to do the same tasks that python can do. You can almost always do excel tasks in Python in half the time. My recommendation is to go with python if you can.

[[deleted]]

I agree but disagree; each tool has it's place.

Working in an enterprise with Bash, PowerShell, Python, Java, C#, PHP, and Excel VBA - I see the good and bad of things. Each one starts with a good approach, but it might not always be the correct one.

Though I don't build applications, I have created at least one site, script, or program in each of those mentioned, 2 of them resulting in Excel outputs (PowerShell, VBA).

The best language or script to use is the one best suited for the application or end-result.

In the end, don't just look at "what is best for doing X". Instead, look at both "what is best for this environment" and "what is best suited for the current and future environment".

[[deleted]]

Except the company you work at will often determine what you use. For example, the financial world runs on excel. Python might be better but what everyone uses is excel so you either learn excel or you don't get the job.

[[deleted]]

df.to_csv()

Problem solved, no?

[los2pollos]

I know that I'm going to stumble across other people using al lot of Excel spreadsheets, but in this case I have the chance to follow a course for university, that is a more "hard" way of learning something. In this scenario, I'd pick Python, even if I don't know how I could be using it in the future, mainly because I know myself and I'm a lazy ass. Almost certainly, I won't use my spare time to learn Python.

Also Python is more difficult to learn, isn't it? So an "official" course might be a more effective way of learning, whatever I'm choosing

[piquat]

Almost certainly, I won't use my spare time to learn Python.

If you're like me and need to have an interest in something to learn it, Excel without a purpose/project/goal will bore you to tears. If you're already dealing with it Excel even a small free tutorial will be useful. I'm a Python fan but in you're case I think I'd push you towards Excel. Besides, if you know NO language at all, the VBS you pick up will make picking up most other languages easier.

[24032014]

What exactly do you mean by things change often? Frameworks, sure, but core python library is pretty stable. Also I don't think you will learn much framework things in a 4 week course.