Learn Python – the language of today and tomorrow
How to Learn Python (Step-By-Step) in 2023
This course is the first in a two-course Python Essentials series. It covers everything you need to know to start designing, writing, running, debugging, and improving Python programs at the foundational level. It also fully prepares you for the PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer certification exam from the Python Institute.
- Why Should You Learn Python?
Python is one of the most popular and in-demand programming languages in the world, and it’s here to stay.
- But what’s the best way to learn Python?
That can be difficult and painful to figure out. Unfortunately, I know this from experience.
A little over a decade ago, I was just a college graduate with a history degree. I then became a machine learning engineer, data science consultant, and now CEO of Dataquest.
However, my journey to learn Python was long, inefficient, and frequently discouraging.
If I could do everything over, I would follow the steps I’m going to share with you in this article. It would have fast-tracked my career, saved me thousands of hours, and prevented a lot of stress.
I created this guide to help people who are in the same position I was in. It’s also why I founded Dataquest. Our interactive Python courses can take you from complete beginner to job-ready using actual code in months.
wever, courses aren’t enough. You need to know how to think, study, plan, and execute effectively if you want to learn Python. This guide contains everything you need to know.
- Is Python Really That Difficult?
When I was learning, I found most of the Python courses and resources were too generic.
Right away, I wanted to learn how to make websites using Python. But the Python learning resource wanted me to spend months on syntax before they got into what interested me.
This barrier felt intimidating and daunting. I put it off for months. Whenever I started a Python course, I quickly lost interest. Python code continued to look foreign and confusing, like this:
from
" django.http import HttpResponse
def index(request):
return HttpResponse("Hello, world. You're at the polls index.")
"
For example, the code above is from the tutorial for Django, a popular Python website development framework. Experienced programmers will often throw snippets like the above at you, “It’s easy!”, they’ll promise.
However, to some beginners, this code might as well be an alien language.
Most Python tutorials assume that you need to learn all of Python syntax before you can start doing anything interesting. But that’s boring! Instead, you probably want to be analyzing data, or building a website, or creating an autonomous drone with artificial intelligence.
All that time spent on syntax saps your motivation, and most people give up.
I like to think of this as the “cliff of boring”. You need to be able to climb the “cliff of boring” to make it to the “land of interesting stuff you work on” (better name pending).
But you don’t have to spend months on that cliff.
learning python should not feel like this
Learning Python syntax doesn’t have to feel like this.
Learning Python Doesn’t Have to be Painful
After many failed attempts, I found a process that worked better for me. In fact, I think this is the best way to learn Python programming.
First, I spent as little time as possible memorizing Python syntax.
Then, I took what I learned and immediately dove headfirst into a project I actually found interesting.
Following this process is not only much more fun, but it allows you to learn at an incredible rate.
😅 Thank u
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