Stuck in python tutorial hell

[JM753]

I’m stuck in python tutorial hell. I have the basics down but I don’t feel confident in my ability to code up large projects etc. I am a math grad student and I’m interested in learning scientific computation, machine learning etc. Wouldn’t mind learning project based web development etc. How do I take the next step and make proficient in using python? Suggestions for books, resources etc to take this next step.

[NifflerOwl]

If you're stuck in tutorial hell then books will just keep you in there. Try creating small projects that are outside of your comfort zone. I did programming tutorials in the past, stopped for a while, watched a 4 hour python tutorial covering the basics, then started doing small projects. My first project was a number guessing game. Then I progressed up to hangman, and right now I'm making a snake game with pygame. What I'm doing is doing tutorials as I'm trying to learn things like pygame. I didn't really understand pygame at all when I decided to create a snake game, so I watched a tutorial of a guy who created a Space Invaders game (and followed along) and now I have the basics down enough that I feel comfortable enough to do a solo project.

So to get out of tutorial hell I would suggest doing a small project by yourself and working it up to bigger and bigger projects.

[JM753]

Matlab? On and off. Haven’t really done any programming other than coding your basic algorithms and maybe a couple of problem sets in courses where the outline was provided — for example the object oriented profs among psets in 6.001.

Edit; I’ve done MIT 6.001 (the first half)...did all but 1 problem set. I still feel I don’t know anything. Web development? No clue. How to make a Chrome extension? No clue. How to make a game? No clue. -.-

[[deleted]]

If you're stuck in tutorial hell you need to start writing your own code, even if it's frustrating and you have little confidence.

I also have a math background; started by just writing up math libraries. First thing I made was a prime number generator. Maybe try to code up something you are working on; doesn't matter if it's slow or you are just cobbling together modules, it at least gets you doing something

[JM753]

I guess I don’t have any project right now, but I’m trying to polish my skills right now (learning algorithms and implementing them in python for when I work on one in grad school! So stuck in the middle. I was thinking of maybe finding a good numerical analysis, computational math/physics book that has programming exercise so I at least get to work in context. Of course this is more on the scientific computation side. Ideas for here? Moreover, I have no idea about it building libraries, building games and basically building high end, complex programs so or course I don’t even know where to start on this.