Just my little tip on how to learn Python the easy way ☑️

I have a lot of books to learn different programming languages, HTML, CSS, but the one thing that helped more than that, is having a problem I really, really want to solve, or make easier or more efficient. And realizing that I can solve it by programming, and then trying to create the solution.

So you start with a piece of code, you google it, you get something working, but not quite the way you want it to. So you look through a book or two you have laying about, but now you're focused and know what you need to know. Sometimes you have to learn first the things you need before you can do it, so you rush through and learn it fast so you can get back to your original problem. Then you refine your solution, and at the end, not only did you solve your problem, but you learnt a lot.


Also: Learning from books are great too, BUT you HAVE TO be smart about it. You have to set aside time every day, and do some predefined amount of reading.

What I did is I got a book from the 'HeadFirst' series (they write books to learn programming, but they try to make it as easy as possible, pages have airy layout, and they try to inject their sense of humor). And then I decided, no matter what happens, I will read 15 pages every day. Then I had several psychological principles working to my advantage; I had precommitted to read every day, every day I get motivated to see how far I've gotten in the book, after one week I'm already at 100 pages, next week 200 pages, I get into a rhythm and made a reading-chain that I was reluctant to break, and the HeadFirst books are so easy that I never got stuck anywhere, and if there was days I just had no energy to read then I could still read 5 pages because the pages are so airy.

Made my day. Great share

Quickmedia17 said:

I am trying to learn how Python works, and where can I use it since the beginning of August. Your post absolutely gives me good motivation. Thank you @Sartre

Click to expand...

When you encounter a problem never give up and put it to the side. Work on it until is resolved. And do it how ever you know or can. it doesnt matter if its not sofisticated solution. Over time you will get better

Sartre said:

Many people ask me how to get into programming. I think Python might not be the best language out there, but it's easy to start with, and it's good for automating the web. The other option is JavaScript, which in my opinion, is harder to get into.

Persistence is the most important skill here. I'd recommend the following:

Download Visual Studio Code. Create a Github account. Both are free.

Learning resources:

1. [Free] Start with Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. I think they have a paid video version of the book, but I prefer learning from regular books. Videos are hard to follow for me. Get a second monitor or a tablet/kindle to follow the books while you're learning.
2. [Free] Go through the Python tutorial 2-3 times and type out all the code and make sure you understand it and it runs properly.
3. This book https://realpython.com/products/python-tricks-book/ - At this point you should start making your own, interesting, productive apps.
4. One year later: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/fluent-python-2nd/9781492056348/
5. Once you know your stuff: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/architecture-patterns-with/9781492052197/ - this book helped me a lot with making real-life apps and orchestrating bigger projects.

Don't really need to pay for any expensive courses. 2-3 books, and you're good.

The first 15 videos for Automate the Boring Stuff with Python are free here:

Make sure never to copy-paste code.

Good luck, guys!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the pointers. I have saved this post in my note taking app. Will be useful one day

This caught my attention, thanks. What is the most popular programming language right now?

dick8843 said:

thanks for this . something to have a play around with

Click to expand...

you pfp says you’ve got more than python to play around though

ps: thanks op, a good share at a perfect time

drums said:

This caught my attention, thanks. What is the most popular programming language right now?

Click to expand...

mostly it depends on what you’re looking to get into anyone you’d ask this is what you’ll get as an answer

GregZX said:

When you encounter a problem never give up and put it to the side. Work on it until is resolved. And do it how ever you know or can. it doesnt matter if its not sofisticated solution. Over time you will get better

Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice and motivation mate. After I learn Python basics and syntax I am going to focus on some Linkedin Automations. I will work on it with reverse engineering as the first step. Automate the boring stuff with Python and Black Hat World will be my source I guess btw

kellyyyy said:

you pfp says you’ve got more than python to play around though

ps: thanks op, a good share at a perfect time


mostly it depends on what you’re looking to get into anyone you’d ask this is what you’ll get as an answer

Click to expand...

For example, which programming language should be learned for artificial intelligence?

drums said:

For example, which programming language should be learned for artificial intelligence?

Click to expand...

if its AI that you’re looking to get into then python is your go to, read about it a bit you’ll know if it fits your goals and what you want to do with it then you can begin

Sartre said:

Many people ask me how to get into programming. I think Python might not be the best language out there, but it's easy to start with, and it's good for automating the web. The other option is JavaScript, which in my opinion, is harder to get into.

Persistence is the most important skill here. I'd recommend the following:

Download Visual Studio Code. Create a Github account. Both are free.

Learning resources:

1. [Free] Start with Automate the Boring Stuff with Python. I think they have a paid video version of the book, but I prefer learning from regular books. Videos are hard to follow for me. Get a second monitor or a tablet/kindle to follow the books while you're learning.
2. [Free] Go through the Python tutorial 2-3 times and type out all the code and make sure you understand it and it runs properly.
3. This book https://realpython.com/products/python-tricks-book/ - At this point you should start making your own, interesting, productive apps.
4. One year later: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/fluent-python-2nd/9781492056348/
5. Once you know your stuff: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/architecture-patterns-with/9781492052197/ - this book helped me a lot with making real-life apps and orchestrating bigger projects.

Don't really need to pay for any expensive courses. 2-3 books, and you're good.

The first 15 videos for Automate the Boring Stuff with Python are free here:

Make sure never to copy-paste code.

Good luck, guys!

Click to expand...

That's a great book. BTW most books from no starch are pretty cool and they have a kind of black hat vibe to them.

drums said:

For example, which programming language should be learned for artificial intelligence?

Click to expand...

Python 100%

Agree the best way to learn is building your own project. and learn as you hit any roadblock.
this also works with any skill, example video editing, SEO, list goes on. learning by doing

I always begin learning for a couple of weeks before losing interest, so I will look into those resources. Thank you

Great share @Sartre

aCkChYuAlLy python is a scripting language and learning it won't make you a real programmer. To become a real programmer you want to start with a low level language and gradually move up the hierarchy to fully understand how things work and why they work the way they do. Grab a copy of "The C Programming Language. 2nd Edition" by K&R and start here. The C language works best on UNIX platforms, so grab a linux ISO at https://www.gentoo.org/downloads/, but remember to pick the right architecture. Whats architecture you might ask. Well, if you don't know that, you might as well give up as real programmers know what it is and have a CS degree. Once you go through the installation process, you'd want to get proficient with linux, so grab few books about system administration and linux commands (5 books should be enough), and also get familiar with the distro's package manager. Once you feel comfortable with using shell and know each and every configuration file on the system, only then you can start learning to program. But hold on, before you do it, you have to install a text editor (IDEs are bloated), the absolute best editors on the market are are vim and emacs. You'll have to configure those editors with custom scripts, vim uses its own language called vimscript and emacs uses emacs lisp. Oh, and before tinkering with config files, you'd want to spend few weeks learning and getting comfortable with key-binds for those editors.

Thanks for this appreciated

Amazing stuff. Thank you!

slippery_slider said:

aCkChYuAlLy python is a scripting language and learning it won't make you a real programmer. To become a real programmer you want to start with a low level language and gradually move up the hierarchy to fully understand how things work and why they work the way they do. Grab a copy of "The C Programming Language. 2nd Edition" by K&R and start here. The C language works best on UNIX platforms, so grab a linux ISO at https://www.gentoo.org/downloads/, but remember to pick the right architecture. Whats architecture you might ask. Well, if you don't know that, you might as well give up as real programmers know what it is and have a CS degree. Once you go through the installation process, you'd want to get proficient with linux, so grab few books about system administration and linux commands (5 books should be enough), and also get familiar with the distro's package manager. Once you feel comfortable with using shell and know each and every configuration file on the system, only then you can start learning to program. But hold on, before you do it, you have to install a text editor (IDEs are bloated), the absolute best editors on the market are are vim and emacs. You'll have to configure those editors with custom scripts, vim uses its own language called vimscript and emacs uses emacs lisp. Oh, and before tinkering with config files, you'd want to spend few weeks learning and getting comfortable with key-binds for those editors.

Click to expand...

Bro, you need to build your own Linux Kernel and distro.

so if i already known javascript then python would be easy for me, right?

Great share Sartre.
Python was the first language i started to learn before focusing more on javascript. I have been thinking of revisiting python after seeing how people here
are applying it to the web, particularly for automation.

I find books to be more useful for comprehension of the topic and videos for seeing how it's done and as a foundation for my own ideas. As long as you're
applying what you're watching and not just copy/pasting everything it's helpful.