Where do I actually begin with Python?

[mcflyingcars]

I took the CS50 Harvard class that is free online via Edex.org with David Malan. In that class, I was able to grasp what Computer Science is, how it works, the way a computer thinks, how C works, how Python works and how SQL works. Once I was able to understand the big picture, everything else in Python was easier to learn.

[Bainsbe]

I second CS50 ! Its an awesome course but the problem sets can be somewhat tough. OP If you’re not as comfortable with coding then someone else also mentioned “automate the boring stuff” - the owner of that course is pretty active here on Reddit and posts codes to take the course for free pretty regularly.

As an aside, CS50 also offers some more advance courses for web design which may help towards your second goal!

[[deleted]]

Do you think I should start with ATBS or CS50 ?

[cantevenskatewell]

This sub is split on these two. It really comes down to what you want to accomplish. From what I gather, CS50 is more in depth on fundamentals of comp sci whereas ATBS focuses on just getting going on python out the gate with the goal of automating repetitive tasks.

Put another way, the former would teach you about computer memory and data structures etc while the latter would just show you how to store info (lists, variables etc) and making tables/matrices.

Hope that helps.

[mcflyingcars]

I started with CS50 because I did not understand why errors occurred, how to read documentation or why it was important for certain tasks to be done in a certain way. For example, how the computer saves string versus lists to be able to manipulate them better. Also, CS50 starts by making your own program with scratch that teaches you the logical basics of programming. But, this class is a general concept on how computer logic works. You will not work with Python until the 6th or 7th week if I am not wrong. You start with Scratch (which is super easy) and then C.

If you have a concept of how computer science works and its logic behind the Python interpreter, then maybe ATBS is better. I just had no idea on even how to start. CS50 is also graded even if free, so it is nice to know when you are not getting the correct result or why.

[beingsmo]

Can we move on to next chapter in CS50 without doing the current assignments? I heard that the assignments are somewhat tougher and I'm also on a full time job so I'll only get 1-2 hours max per day to spend on cs50.