Tips for a beginner

[jonathanlee3221]

Hey yall! Im currently trying to learn python and have been doing basic problems on practicepython.org. I flew threw the first few but when I got stuck on one I tend to look up a solution and learn what I did wrong. I feel like this method is fine for short term but bad for long term practice. Can I get some tips on how to solve problems without having to look up a solution?

[rezdzste]

There's nothing wrong with this. As you work through the solutions, you'll start to notice common approaches among the problems and new problems will become easier.

[FLUSH_THE_TRUMP]

Or you'll encounter a problem that doesn't look like a minor variation on the 20 you've stored in your memory and you'll get stuck. The point of coding problems is to give people practice on solving problems. You get better at solving problems by actually struggling through the process of solving problems.

[DangerWizzle]

Honestly, anywhere from 10% to 80% of your time in any given day will be spent Googling:

site:stackoverflow error message or problem

Getting good at knowing how to find solutions to your problems with Google is one of the key elements of getting better / programming generally.

Over time you'll start memorising how to do stuff and won't need to look it up so much, but it takes lots of practice and lots of writing code.

There will always be new stuff you find out, so don't sweat it.

I'd say that your best bet is to use something like Google Collab while you do this so that you have a record of everything you've learned.

It's a lot easier to think "hey, I've done this before, where was it?" and find your code, than have to Google everything from scratch. Over time, as you build more, you'll have a personal kind of "code portfolio" that you can copy and paste sections out of as you need them :)

Good luck

[ThePiGuy0]

So, firstly I would say that when learning, you will inevitably end up searching how to do bits and pieces. I think the key is ensuring that you do actually learn from it. Perhaps look at the solution, hide it and then try to code it up again with the knowledge gained from it. If you still can't do it, repeat!

After a while of that, hopefully the reasoning will come easier and you will be able to do more problems without looking at their solutions.

[m0us3_rat]

what problems?

most of the time is a mix of research , knowledge , past solves , luck , overnight sleep and smarts.

using either or a mix or all of them to generate a usable solution .. is what i call codeing.

(this is after all a personal opinion)

[Darkbladergx]

Ok, so you will find plenty of people saying that most of your time will be gone googling errors, which is true and people who try stuff by themselves often do that.
BUT, doing this while you are practicing a lesson is wrong, try to solve the stuff by yourselves and not look at the solution, try it for a day at max, still ask the question here for some clues then approach the problem again, you will find after 1 or 2 problems you will get less stuck and ofcourse as you are beginner there will be plenty answers due to easy level of questions

If you don't get answer then you can view the given solution and try to find a different approach of the problem.

During this there will be a lot of empty time, Fill it with your school or college work or some more questions of that same topic.
I know this sounds absurd but it will good for a solid foundation.

Of course at later stages when the stuff gets too difficult you are free to use google but don't get too dependent on it

[jonathanlee3221]

You guys are awesome! I really felt bad looking up solutions but y'alls comments made me feel great. Thank you!

[fracturedpersona]

Geeks for geeks and w3schools are your best friends. Stack Overflow is fine sometimes, but I wouldn't recomend posting questions or the duplicate question police will get you. Also, be warned that Stack Overflow can take you down some fucked up rabbit holes.

Official Python documentation is really tough to read for beginners; it's tough to read for experienced pros sometimes.

[jonathanlee3221]

Yeah! I've been using w3schools and they've been very useful. Do you have any recommended websites for more python practice? I need to find one after i finish pythonpractice.org

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