Great Place To Learn Python?

13 years ago

I recommend you not try to find an all-in-one website solution, and buy a book. You'll get a much better introduction to the basics this way.

I've personally learned the most about Python by working with other Pythonistas, learning their particular habits and methods.

If you're looking for a general introduction on the web, the best thing is probably on the main Python site. Check this out: 3. An Informal Introduction to Python — Python v2.7.5 documentation ... I still recommend finding something in print though.

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WpHelpSupport

13 years ago

This free online tutor is popular

Learn Python The Hard Way

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

Do you think LearnStreet is a good place to start? I found a Python course there

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WpHelpSupport 13 years ago

Originally Posted by lonfore

Do you think LearnStreet is a good place to start? I found a Python course there

You can try their free course out, it might suit you. Personally I don't like interactive learning, it's kinda slow and rather skim through and only dig into the subjects I need quickly.
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- Jasmn 13 years ago
  
  I agree, interactive tutorials are a good way to get a kick start but nothing replaces a hands-on instructor-led course for an expedited result. Achieving a level of expertise depends on your learning style and your seriousness about this career path. There several good software companies that offer instructor-led training. Just Google python training in your city. Here's one that I know is reputable that train virtually with a subject expert.
  hartmannsoftware.com/classes/Python
  
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jtchaschowy

13 years ago

best way to learn how to use a programming language is to just come up with a program that you want to create. have an idea... and then you slowly build it, learning as you go.

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

A parallel question, Do you think Python is a good option to start the journey to be a software engineer?

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wayfarer

13 years ago

yes

Study C also

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

wayfare thanks a lot. Yes I know C and C++.

Just another question, I heard Software Engineers are not respected in USA and Europe while doctors are highly respected and earn huge. Is it true? I am still a high school student and I just want to understand which way is better for me.

Cant understand why Computer engineers or software engineers are underestimated while their job is not easy at all. Also they can indirectly contribute to the society. Doctors are obviously doing great job but Engineers are indirectly contributing too?

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Damien Roche

13 years ago

Originally Posted by lonfore

wayfare thanks a lot. Yes I know C and C++.

Just another question, I heard Software Engineers are not respected in USA and Europe while doctors are highly respected and earn huge. Is it true? I am still a high school student and I just want to understand which way is better for me.

Cant understand why Computer engineers or software engineers are underestimated while their job is not easy at all. Also they can indirectly contribute to the society. Doctors are obviously doing great job but Engineers are indirectly contributing too?

If you're basing your career on salary then you've already lost. Software engineering requires a great passion for building software. If you don't have that passion, you won't last long.

I don't understand where you've got that impression from. Sure, they are not as critical positions as doctors, but they are certainly valued by the right people. Software engineers and, more broadly, computer scientists, are responsible for technological advancements in medical research (such as cancer detection -- forget name of teenager who made shocking progress in this field). With the future being largely of a digital kind, surrounded by software, anybody who doesn't recognise the importance of software engineers is ignorant.

But, like I say, you can't really just go grab another profession and compare the two, then weigh up based on salary and essentially 'choose your passion'; follow it instead. Do you want to be a doctor or do you want to be a software engineer? What would you do if both careers paid the same? What would you do if all careers paid the same?

Regarding your follow on question: yes, Python is a great place to start. Ruby is another great language along the same lines. You already have C and C++ so I'd see no reason to learn another statically typed language. Take the opportunity to inspect dynamically typed languages. Ruby might just steal the show in terms of developer productivity. I'd ignore anybody who suggests PHP over any of these options. Far too many PHP advocates on these forums for my liking. That's where I started. Don't make that mistake.

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annaharris

13 years ago

I suggest you to go with Learn Python - Free Interactive Python Tutorial or official python tutorials.

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

Thanks Demien for your valuable insight.

I have great passion on programming and so I have studied C and CPP hard already. I really enjoy coding but software engineering is not all about coding as my cousin said who is working in apple for couple of years now. Im not an Yankee rather from India. I want to come in USA to get a quality degree after this year after completion of my high school. But I heard in USA doctors, Lawyers and Rock Stars are valued as class 1 citizens while engineers are always considered as 2n or even 3rd class citizens! Cant understand why lawyers and Rock Stars are over valued and Engineers are really underestimated! In fact we are using internet which is running by hard works of thousands of engineers.

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

One more thing, programming is really not so easy and definitely not for all. Only hard working and meritorious guys can shine in this field. While software engineering requires years of hard works. Yes they might not be on a critical position as doctors but their field of study is not really easier than medicine. But in USA may be people respect others measuring them by their earnings? If so then a firefighter is always 2nd class citizen even though he saves lives too.

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wayfarer

13 years ago

People in general definitely respect police and firefighters in the USA, not because of what they get paid, but because they put their lives on the line to help others. Earnings is really secondary because it doesn't say everything about a person.

As far as software engineers go, it's not that people don't respect them, it's more like people don't understand them. I have a very difficult time explaining what I do to most people, so I'd say the respect I get is pretty much neutral, since it doesn't really affect their lives directly as far as they know. The nice thing though is, that what software engineers do can potentially affect the lives of thousands or even millions of people, but that's something we keep to ourselves for the most part

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by wayfarer

As far as software engineers go, it's not that people don't respect them, it's more like people don't understand them. I have a very difficult time explaining what I do to most people, so I'd say the respect I get is pretty much neutral, since it doesn't really affect their lives directly as far as they know. The nice thing though is, that what software engineers do can potentially affect the lives of thousands or even millions of people, but that's something we keep to ourselves for the most part

(Y) (Y) ......

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YHmuWong

13 years ago

These days things are getting easier and easier. Codeacademy is the simplest way to learn python.

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MediaEncounterOmar

13 years ago

Django has to be my favorite python language. i recommend working with that framework i believe reddit is coded in django.

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lonfore

Banned 13 years ago

A parallel question, can I control hardware using Python?

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Wildhoney

13 years ago

I always love the interactive tutorials to get started, they seem to chime better with the way I like the learn. You can have a Google around for "python interactive tutorials", but the most popular is: Learn Python - Free Interactive Python Tutorial

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type3

13 years ago

The 'Head Start' books are really great, I'd recommend them.

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crescendo

13 years ago

Interactive tutorials are the best to start with.It not only does it teach you how to use the Python programming language, but it teaches you how to think like programmers think.The Dive Into Python web tutorial series is awesome for those that want to learn python who have little or no experience with programming.

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htmlthis

13 years ago

Check this out: Introduction to Python | Codecademy

Python is an easy language to pick up, it's a great beginner language, really easy to use. Good luck!

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ChristoFouche

13 years ago

You can get a very good foundation by doing the "Intro to Computer Science" Course at https://www.udacity.com/

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SEOpsychic

13 years ago

i'm quite surprised no one has mentioned CodeCademy

...if you want to learn while practicing alongside i recommend you try http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python

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dconjar

13 years ago

I learned Python on Coursera.

If you're already familiar with programming, you could probably learn a lot faster on Code Academy. I did all their Ruby courses in a day! It's addictive.

As WpHelpSupport mentioned, this is also a good place to start:

Learn Python The Hard Way

Zed Shaw made that course. He's the guy who figured out how to scale Ruby on Rails, so he's legit. He's also the creator of http://programmingmother******.com, which is one of the greatest domain names ever.

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JonBird

13 years ago

Got some great advice here...

I've always enjoyed the Head Start books. Do a search on Big G for this... "Head-First-Python-Paul-Barry" and you should be good to go. They have an interesting way of laying out the information that appeals to me.

Code Academy looks good too: Introduction to Python | Codecademy

And I was quite impressed with Learn Python - Free Interactive Python Tutorial
The interactive window is a great feature.

Thanks to dconjar, htmlthis, SEOPsychic, Wildhoney and others too for all the suggestions.

Depending on your knowledge of other languages.. you may be able to skip through these pretty fast. Best of luck.

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jasontrailor 13 years ago

There are many tutorials available on internet, you can easily find and learn Python.
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Great Place To Learn Python?

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