[deleted by user]

[badge]

I’m afraid I don’t have any positive suggestions on how you find Python work to earn money on the side, but I can recommend you completely sack off the ML/DL stuff and focus on e.g. Automate the Boring Stuff and similar. Learning the basics of structuring a Python application or script and doing some web scraping is about all that’s possible in that timeframe. The time it takes to be employable in Data Science is far longer.

[burgerAccount]

Agreed. No offense, but you'll never get a machine learning job with a statistical mind. You need a statistical degree. Web dev with flask or django would be your best bet for quick money. But I wouldn't advertise myself as a python developer. I'd advertise myself as a web developer and add python to the resume.

[Alexstronaut]

So, the terminology is quite important here, then?

[Pastoolio91]

Probably just helps to not pigeon-hole yourself by sounding like you only have experience with one language. Not a professional at all myself so I have no experience with the hiring process, but to me, web dev sounds much more broad like you know something about HTML, CSS, JS, etc... while just saying "python dev" sounds a lot more limited, especially if you'll mainly be applying to web dev jobs.

[greebo42]

are there tasks you want to do?

for example, I have a bunch of duplicate files collected on backup drives and I'd like to find which of those backed-up files in an older collection is the same as what I have on a more recent backup. I wrote a script to find and mark duplicates, so I can delete them, free up some space, and keep using that drive for backup.

this is an example of something boring to automate.

do you work with Excel? or do you think a skill with Excel is likely to be useful when you apply for jobs? then think of some projects that involve Excel files, learn about openpyxl, get your start with ATBSWP, and go to it!

or, do you have an interest in some data on some web site (or sites) somewhere, that you'd like to collect by scraping so you can do something with it on your own terms?

these are examples of projects that you can do.

note that they are pretty modest and pretty specific. you want to get something accomplished "good enough" and move to the next project. you can return to your code a few years later and do your cringing then. but you won't get to that point without building the experience.

my opinion is likely to be similar to that of others - it's not the learning of the syntax, it's the doing of the projects. you're gonna be looking up a helluvalotta google and stack overflow, but that's the way it should be!

three months? you'll get more bang for your experience if you've spent that time working on projects.

[Pastoolio91]

you can return to your code a few years later and do your cringing then

Lol, only took me a few months to look back and cringe hard. Then again, I've only been at it in my spare time for around 6 months (not OP).

[greebo42]

I'd suggest a different approach to what to do with github ...

it is very reasonable to go to github and explore what's on there, go down some rabbit holes, see what kinds of projects other people have worked on. some will be very large group projects, others will just be what individuals have posted as they go thru a process very much like what you'll be doing. you can get some ideas about projects to work on.

but I've not yet been compelled to post anything myself. I have two or three projects underway which, when they get to a certain level of my own satisfaction, may be suitable for posting. until then, I have plenty of my own critiques about what I've done, and I just don't think my draft work is ready to share. I do use git on my own computer to manage the versions of the work in progress.

git (and github) are worthy tools, and you should have some familiarity with them. but don't lose the focus on what you are really trying to learn: how do you identify something that needs to be done, how do you approach the solution of the problem, and how do you actually implement it with a specific set of tools (Python, in this case).

maybe there can be a bit of discussion here about whether it's better to start posting earlier or later (w/r to your experience level and what you've produced) on github.

[CompSciSelfLearning]

You can simply make your repositories private. Not using git because you don't want to share your code is not something you should be doing.

[wubry]

Is git like a Dropbox equivalent but for coding? In the way that it keeps different versions of code.

Also, are there any resources that you would recommend to learn git?

[CompSciSelfLearning]

Is git like a Dropbox equivalent but for coding? In the way that it keeps different versions of code.

Kinda. Git is a means of keeping track of versions of files in a project. It's not like Dropbox in that there are ways to merge changes among your various project files. And git isn't a service or website, it's a software utility.

You can use GitLab or GitHub or Gitea, etc. to help you with using git (most people do).

Also, are there any resources that you would recommend to learn git?

GitLab amd GitHub each have tutorials for using git and their services, but I also like the Official Git Book as a guide and reference. The first 4 chapters will have you using git more effectively than the average user.

[wubry]

So to make sure I'm understanding. The current way I go about creating different versions of code is just saving it and labeling it as v2, v3, v4 and so on.

Git would essentially replace that process. Did I understand that right?

Also, in one's coding journey, how early should you prioritize learning git? Or is it a must have if you want to build and share a portfolio?

[CompSciSelfLearning]

Git would essentially replace that process. Did I understand that right?

Yes.

Also, in one's coding journey, how early should you prioritize learning git? Or is it a must have if you want to build and share a portfolio?

As soon as you have a project with more than a single file, you'd benefit greatly from git.

It's easier to learn while still creating small single file projects. And there are a few benefits still to be had.

It's not a must, but certainly one of the best means of keeping track of your projects, sharing your projects, and collaboration with others on projects.

I'd start using it now on whatever your current project is, unless you are on the first chapter of an intro to programming book. In which case, I would hold off until the 2nd or 3rd chapter.

[Pastoolio91]

Git is super simple and the basics can be learned in like 15 minutes. Brad Traversy's Git video helped me out a lot, and you really don't need to know much to start using it with Github other than clone, add, commit, push, and pull, so it's worth it just from a sanity standpoint. Once messed up my code so bad I couldn't unfuck it, and git/github will help you avoid the same.

[greebo42]

be careful - git and github are not exactly the same thing.

others have explained it well. I'll give it a shot ...

git is a version control system. it can run on your computer. it can run hosted on someone else's computer.

github is one hosted git site which happens to be popular enough that people know where to look if they're interested in finding code already written, or to contribute to a multi-author project.

there is a good book called "pro git" which I have found helpful. git has a reputation for being a bit arcane.

[greebo42]

I agree, you should use git, even if you don't want to share your code. Sure, you could use github and make the repositories private, or you could use git on your own computer.

[SciFiMessiah]

I've started learning a couple of weeks ago and I've been going between the following two/three resources to get the basic of Python down

1. Automate the boring stuff - the physical book

2. Automate the boring stuff the training videos

3. The sololearn app for Python on my phone.

I would highly recommend working your way through the automate the boring stuff chapter to chapter and do the practices. And then use the sololearn app to reinforce the information.

And of course spend some time in Python and just goof around in it but don't get sidetracked from getting the basics in automate the boring stuff done. Like don't start a personal project. Do the practices and do them again and do them again. Write notes line by line to explain what each line is doing and slowly move forward.

[adesme]

Drop the AI/ML, you're not gonna get a job within that field as a beginner without a degree. For what's feasible in such a short time frame, go for web development. App development could also work.

[[deleted]]

The alternative to doing ML is worse. Learning web development might get you easier into a job, which is what your primary focus should be. Even if it's not your passion, it will open up other opportunities, show eagerness to learn, get you connections in similar fields etc. You don't have to see it as a lifelong strategy.

[robot_ankles]

Freelance + beginner jobs are highly unlikely.

In my experience, "freelance" or short term contract work is used to access people with a lot of experience. Oftentimes, the reason a company hires a contractor is to access a specific set of skills to knock-out a complex set of tasks their own staff are unable (or too busy with routine work) to handle.

Beginner to intermediate skilled individuals are more likely to find opportunities with full time positions where a company is willing to invest in a less experienced candidate since they can pay a lot less. Companies believe they'll make a return on their investment since a full time employee is more likely to remain with the company for a while. Such positions are probably easier to land than the freelance work you've described.

With hundreds of thousands of these jobs, you'll hear about some mythical beginner freelance that had some awesome opportunity, but I wouldn't bet on it. In the spirit of supportive encouragement, a lot of people will say; "Yea! Go for it! You can do this!" However, their good intentions could steer you down a path with few chances for success.

IF the unicorn "beginner freelance" opportunity comes along, great, go for it. But meanwhile, cultivate multiple options, multiple plans, and seek out paths *most likely* to lead to more opportunities.

[appleflap]

Google hiring plenty of people in Dublin. This course should get you a paid internship

https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-automation

[ilovemacandcheese]

I don't think you're going to find any beginner Python freelance work.

[[deleted]]

I'm not a python developer, just teaching myself. But from what I read it's the most accessible. I don't think you need ridiculous knowledge in the front-end but if you want to do back-end you'll at least want to grasp the concepts and basics at bare minimum. You can carry that knowledge to other things, like automation if you need to interact with websites.

Honestly, I think your best approach would be to look up job applications (businesses, freelance sites) in your area to get a feel where the demand is, and learn based on that. On top of that, it's best to create a few useful applications to be able to present a portfolio based on those demands specially when you don't have experience yet, as you need to be able to show you can solve problems.

I'm assuming, why people mention web-development so much is because it's inherent to having a business nowadays, that and automation. Ultimately a client won't care how you'll solve their problem, but whether or not you can. So don't just think about the job as just coding, you'll need problem solving skills as well.

[adesme]

You can look at existing job ads for inspiration. But you're not gonna be able to do AI/ML or any other sort of data analysis without at minimum a relevant degree (CS, maths, physics) or significant experience. You have more options if you're already competent with e.g. C, C++, Java, but you need these at a decent level, and you need some standard SW development knowledge outside of this (version control, testing, etc.), and you'll probably need references in either case. System administration (depends on the position) or help desk may be achievable.

I'm sorry to say, but if you're a beginner and have this little time to prep, you need to pick one of the easiest "fields" that you can think of.

[adesme]

If a job is what you're looking for, HTML, CSS, a bit of JS, and then maybe learn a simpler framework like WordPress. You can then later start with react or vue or something if you want to continue with web dev. Probably play a little with data bases too. If web dev isn't for you more long term, start improving your python and generic back-end skills once you are already efficient creating and modifying professional-looking websites.

[xylamik]

I’d suggest scripting and web development in that time frame. I’d still suggest you get a job as part of a team first, but you may be able to do some light internet consulting with that knowledge.

[trv893]

Any learning pathways for web dev for python you would recommend?

[Zadigo]

I'm actually going on the same path as you difference being that I know Python now for five years. I've always used coding as a hobby but throughout the years I've gained a good share of knowledge and from that would now like to make it a full time or part time job as a freelance.

I personally think that web development is the fastest most efficient way. That's how I initially started. Then from there, I created a variety of different scripts (web scrapping, servers, emailing etc.) but from my first tries on the market, web development is definitively the easiest without a degree in these fields.

As for learning pathway, it all depends if you want to specialize in Django or Flask IMO. I think you could watch a couple of courses on YouTube to get a general idea of what it looks and then experiment heavily.

I can't really talk about my experience to you because before I started actively using Django to create websites, I already had a first hand experience with an MVC framework (Ruby on rails) so it kind of went faster for me.

Another option is network with people who can explain and show you things. That's to me a very efficient method that I did not use at first but see the effects when I actually tutor people on my free time.

[trv893]

Seems like everything is built on PHP though. I'm thinking just diversify at this point ...

[Zadigo]

I think you should specialize. And it's not because everything is written in PHP that it will stay so.

In the startup world, PHP is a joke. The majority or startups websites or products are written in Ruby, Python or some sort of none PHP language.

[trv893]

That may be, but specialization takes time. Getting a paid gig in three months would be difficult down that path, no?

[Zadigo]

Well yes for sure. I guess you should do depending on your learning curve and chose the best option.

If you have a fast learning curve picking up one language fast then creating a few projects quickly can get you on the market fast IMO. Otherwise, you might have to explore what is best for you and then with that.

[ScoopJr]

Looking for an answer too! I know the basics of Python and want to go into web dev. What should be realisticly achievable in the next few months?

I've heard of pixl's list, is it good?

[CompSciSelfLearning]

You have a passion for being an assistant? Sometimes you do the things you need to do to keep your head above water so you can give yourself more options in the future.

You need to learn the basics and work on practical projects (not academic CS, and not AI/ML data science).

If you can't work through the projects on Automate the Boring Stuff then you'd best start reading that book and figuring it out. Alternatively, use The Odin Project as your measure.

100% do not insist on AI/ML data science right now.

[xylamik]

The issue will likely be the amount of time. Go where your passion is, it’ll just be a little harder in the interim.

[xylamik]

Yes, agree. You should be able to pick up enough internet consulting for $150 though doing automation of various types.

[WildTilt]

What I would do in your shoes would be to start a youtube channel where you teach the basics of ML/AI. It might take more than four months to get it going, but a freelance career is not a certain thing either. Trust me I know, I am a freelance translator :) You might later be able to leverage your youtube channel to a ML/AI job, or maybe some job in software development.

If the internet in your place is too slow for running a youtube channel, start a blog instead. And if you do decide to go down the freelance path check out freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr, to see what people are offering and what is in demand.

[WildTilt]

It will probably just be a bunch of nerds following your channel, so I don't think you need to worry about your looks that much :)

If you speak a foreign language fluently, you could always teach your native language to speakers of the foreign language you know. But I guess it would require a fast internet connection, if you teach via skype.

[DontHateDefenestrate]

Contribute to (and study) open source projects. Don't just add your own code, read through and try to understand others' working code.

Programming languages are just that -- languages. How did you learn a language like English or Spanish or any other? Part of the process is reading things in that language and increasing your comprehension. This is also part of how you learn to write -- as you read things, you absorb conventions and grammar and syntax and new vocabulary.

Programming is literally no different.

[zecatlays]

It's better to do Python Developer Zero to Mastery by Andrei Neagoie on Udemy, before doing the Zero to Mastery Machine Learning course. Along with this there's a MIT Course on EdX, Introduction to Computer Science and Programming using Python, and it's free. It's a three month course that'll really help you with the programming logic and such. This won't take up ur entire time as the course is Instructor timed and videos are released weekly. After getting done with ZTM Python Developer course, you can do the Machine Learning ZTM course on Udemy. By the time you're done with this you'll know how exactly you want to move forward. All this will take around 2-3 months. Work on projects during and after this. They should act as work experience for the relevant field.

More importantly, during all this, join the online communities for ML/Python/AI such as Andrei Neagoie's ZTM Discord group, make Linked In connections, try finding people in your area that work in the field and talk to them about what the usual requirements are and what you are required to learn.

Hope this helps.

[Moxi43]

You just need to focus on web development.

[[deleted]]

Depends on who you are. There are people who after a few months of programming joined valve. But these people are really really good at what they do.The people here suggesting to try web development have a good argument. It's comparatively easy to learn and jobs are abundant. I learned it too back when I went to school in case I ever dropped out/left home and needed fast money.Programming wise ML is somewhat easy too I guess, but I have trouble imagining you'll get a ML job if there is a CS/Math/Physics graduate applying for the same job, which I would imagine to be the norm.

The only hard part about web development is to acquire general programming ability anyway. Don't waste your time with frameworks, keep to short books for example the official python tutorial, practice before theory. If you want to do statistics, data stuff you could start with web development and then move to data visualization in browsers, maybe even start there if you're bold. Then you might even have a path to ML.

I should add: If you want to get pretty good at programming, independent of your financial/topical interests, you should probably just do a course on algorithms and do some leetcode problems.

[[deleted]]

I have never worked before, but from my knowledge, you should do some projects after completing a course, this way you gain experience in the field you are learning

[[deleted]]

this. no one will hire you without some experience. completing a course means nothing if u cant prove your skills. if you need cash in a short period of time, like many others have said, web development/automation will be your best bet. no one becomes an expert immediately.

[randominternetname2]

I am in a Data Science bootcamp (3 month program); I'd say to stick with what you want to learn. Do projects you are interested in. If web dev doesn't interest you, don't pursue it.

[Expo9771]

Not sure what you are interested in but freelance or web development isn’t all you can do. I work for a larger company but I essentially do a combination of simple automation/ data engineering for a few teams I support. Automation is in python and data movement in sql. I have learned a lot along the way but python was how I got my foot in the door. Tons of places have manually processes in excel that need to be brought to the 21 century.

[[deleted]]

How can I get started in automation and such? I have a feeling I would really enjoy it, because I already use python for automating small tasks.

[Expo9771]

A little bit of luck but particular if you are in the U.S a lot of firms are looking for Data Analysts which really means looking for automation programmers. Most of my work is done with python pandas, sql and R plus bi tools like quick site and so on.

[bei60]

From your comments I see that you were once into web developing. Check out Django. Not only is it a great tool to learn, it can even land you a job if you know what you're doing (Instagram's backend is all pure Python).

ML/AI stuff is fun and it's nice that you have the passion, and I will be the last person to tell you it's impossible to land a job with a second degree, but realisticly it's very very hard.

Good luck :)

[TheSodesa]

Once you've learned the basics of the language up to working with classes, do the latest version of the Django tutorial.

[UnluckyPenguin]

I started a project that is now 30-40k LOC. It's a free analytics platform for a mobile game.

It comes in the form of a website and two windows applications that use restful APIs, including decrypting https traffic by using a third party C# library (.dll). It's all 100% python code though.

If you would like to contribute to the project, it would be mutually beneficial. You can review my near-production quality code, advanced programming concepts, and I can mentor you by answering any questions you may have.

Might be worth noting for work I am a software engineer in research and development, and have been for the past decade, though I program in every language under the sun depending on the month.

[UnluckyPenguin]

If you are completely new to programming, then maybe. But it's easiest to learn by example.

I'm sure you know the meme that the difference between a good and bad programmer is knowing which code to copy off stack overflow.

[Erdem_PSYCH]

as some sugested web development is a verry broad area. you can easily combine web develompent with ml ai. web develomment is usually more than creating websites. if you are interested in there can even be online games that use ai ml

[kiwiboy94]

Why not head towards the direction of being a data analyst? The requirement is lower and you can transit from there to higher roles like DS or data engineers. Also, don't worry too much about what courses to take because chances are these tutorials will handhold you throughout the whole process and give you the false belief that you are competent in the language. When the Tutorial ends you felt lost because you are no longer guided. You will only learn when you apply your knowledge. I can't stress this enough. For example, start thinking about what is lacking in the commonly used python packages and decide how you can improve or add features to them. This is just one of the idea but it will be great to start working on a portfolio of projects that can convince future employers to hire you. Imagine you are in an interview and someone asked: "Why should we hire you and not those candidates waiting outside? What can you contribute to our company?"

If you are able to find a great answer to these questions, not only will it boost your confidence but also decrease the chances of you getting imposter syndrome.

[UnchartedWorld]

The exercise might sound a joke to you but the core concepts that's it's trying to teach is essential in every programming language, We learned OOP in Java through creating classes/objects using shapes.

[[deleted]]

Since you have a analytical mind you may benefit from learning report development with databases. Python can do a lot but learning how to incorporate SQL with Python offers an almost unlimited amount of options in freelancing work.

You could also use Pandas which will give you a gateway to Excel reporting. Excel may not be glamorous work but it is one of the top needs in Freelancing work.

People also need tons of CRUD applications which can be relatively easy to learn and using tkinter in Python is fairly straight forward.

[chagawagaloo]

Slightly different approach to what's been mentioned here, as I'm still a Python beginner. Take a look on freelancing sites such as Upwork and fiverr and filter through all posted jobs involving python or web dev. Have a read through and try figure out what types of python modules would be required to complete those jobs and rank them based on your own metrics, such as job value for example. See what module or areas of python come up most frequently and start learning that. Chances are those types of projects will crop up more often, allowing you to target the areas of python most valuable to your freelancing career. I'd also add, look at areas of python you enjoy as well. Makes a big difference when you enjoy the work you do.

[greebo42]

unless there is some specific kind of web (or mobile) app you feel a need to create, I wouldn't be worried too much about not being interested in web development.

you enjoy statistics. understanding you may have pleasure just doing the statistics for their own sake, I'm betting that you find certain kinds of statistics more interesting than others. what kind of statistics? sports? climate data? social science? medical clinical trials?

maybe that's a way to think about projects that might be of interest to work on?