r/learnpython • u/ChiefMarcus117 • 2d ago
Stuck learning python. Asking for advice
I've been trying to learn python for months now and know some of the basics, but I'm stuck in tutorial hell. I've been using Mimo alongside 100 Days of Code bootcamp by Angela Yu and although 100 days of code started easy enough, it quickly got overwhelming. I go through the course and think im doing ok but then end up getting stuck trying to figure out the projects at the end of each lesson and then give up and look at the solutions. I really want to learn to use Python with AI but I feel like im not making any progress at all like this. Any advice?
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u/Wuthering_depths 2d ago edited 2d ago
I can't speak to the AI thing, I haven't used it myself and haven't felt the need. I learn best by doing things myself, though eventually I'd be more willing to use it to do "grunt work" (though "eventually" would have to be soon as I'm retiring hopefully in 3 years!). I'm learning it at work though and most of my scripts that do the job are pretty short so that is a factor in me writing them myself (As an aside, I'm continually amazed at what you can get done in a very few lines of text...I'm coming from using SSIS all day so this is so much easier and quicker to use!)
That's key for me, as the other post said, I have projects with goals so that gives me direction. I know from past attempts to learn other things (e.g. Java) that if I'm just in tutorial mode it won't really click with me.
I'm a data analyst so my projects are geared toward moving data around. You may have a different focus.
For example, a couple projects I am working on this week involve retrieving files via secure FTP and writing file contents to a database. Another does the opposite, it creates csv files from data from a few different database sources. I haven't attempted any sort of front-end user app and probably never will, as that's not really what my team does.
In short, even if it's a text adventure game or something, it may help to have a specific goal in mind that you really understand and are interested in.
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u/Think_Material3772 2d ago
Read this book, bro:
Think python: How to think like a computer scientist
it's 250 pages long, it helped me.
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u/cyrixlord 2d ago
come up with a project idea and focus on that. like an API key manager or a postman clone or a picture viewer
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u/ChiefMarcus117 2d ago
I'm not sure what kind of projects I can do. I can't come up with anything that I'd like to do.
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u/cyrixlord 2d ago
why did you want to lab coding if you weren't curious about doing something cool with the knowledge. find your computer interests and try to automate them
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u/kadfr 2d ago
Maybe try a different approach? The important thing is to practice and make mistakes. Could you try something different?
The University of Helsinki's Introduction to Programming MOOC
Do the exercises in a book like Automate the Boring Stuff or Python Crash Course
Do your own project
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u/ChiefMarcus117 2d ago
I'm open to trying new things. But what I really want to do is get some practice but I have no idea where to look and all I see are behind subscriptions.
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u/ivovis 2d ago
" I can't come up with anything that I'd like to do."
There's your problem right there, why are you learning to program?
If you turn down every challenge and skip the programming part there's not any point on continuing.
Go back to 100 days and actually do the projects - that's where the leaning is at.
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u/workingstiffatwork 2d ago
I don't know what you're stuck on of course, but I can give you a couple of things that help me. For one thing, there is no shame in just looking up solutions. I do it all the time. Another thing is to break a problem down into smaller pieces. Like sometimes I actually rewrite the broken piece of code on its own, and see if I am getting the result I expect. The last thing I can suggest is going back to what you know. If I can make it work with Powershell or curl or bash or whatever then I can use that as a starting point to try again in Python. I'm covering a lot of bases there because again, I don't know what you're trying to do. And I come from a sysadmin background by the way.
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u/jumbofudge 2d ago
codecombat was a more interesting way for me to learn concepts. gives you mini scripts you need to make to pass levels. i would also say that looking things up will always be a part of your process, you just need to ensure you understand why your found solution works.
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u/IntelligentSeries270 2d ago
I find it easier to understand what code is doing and how build a system then knowing how to type some thing out line by line, when through proper prompting, I can generally make what I want, and then append as needed.
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u/Patman52 2d ago
Do you have anything boring or repetitive that you do every day through work or school? Try to automate it.
Is there is something you like doing for a hobby like tracking sports statistics, reading or video game progress, or cooking and dieting? Build an app to track it for you.
Google “Python project ideas”, I think this sub even has a link in the FAQs that will give you other ideas based on difficulty levels if you need anything else.
And be careful using AI when just starting out. I think I can be a helpful tool if used correctly (I.e., asking it simple questions about an API or to explain how a block of code works for example, keeping in mind it tends to make stuff up a lot) but if you let it do everything for you, you’ll never learn.
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u/stepback269 2d ago
Your issue is not Python.
Your issue is understanding the learning process.
What you need to do now is to "Learn how to Learn"
Go to YouTube and in the search bar, type, "learning coaches"
Pick the ones who rely on modern neuroscience.
Godspeed and may the productivity-motivating dopamine hits be with you. :-)
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u/rupturedprolapse 2d ago
You have to actually practice to wire your brain to get better at programming. Part of that whole process is being uncomfortable and struggling with things that seem like they should be easy. Tutorials don't really accomplish much of anything and are more for the people writing them to get clicks off google.