Here's what the steps look like to learn Python in the best way possible:
Okay, you made your decision to learn Python programming. Firstly, let us assure you that you made a good decision. As someone in the field of teaching programming for the past 10+ years, we can guarantee you cannot go wrong with Python.
Let's address some facts. Learning to code is not easy. Starting with Python does make the path more manageable, but it's not a piece of cake like many online resources mention.
That being said, a proper roadmap or learning path will definitely help you with your journey.
If you are someone who wants a specific pathway to learn Python efficiently without any distractions, this is the guide for you.
Here, you will find the best way to learn Python, which thousands of coding beginners have adopted.
Reading this guide means you have already understood the ins and outs of Python programming. If not, I highly recommend you visit the article, Everything You Need to Know about Python before starting.
Here's what the steps look like to learn Python in the best way possible:
Step 1: Master Python Fundamentals
Step 2: Practice By Building Projects
Step 3: Learn to Love Error Messages
Step 4: Get an Internship or a Job as Early as Possible
Let's go through each of the steps.
Like a building's foundation, coding fundamentals serve as the foundation for writing computer codes and help you become a proficient programmer.
As a beginner, it's really difficult to identify fundamental concepts that you should focus on first. So here's what you can do:
The course includes everything you need to start your programming journey.
These programming fundamentals remain the same in all programming languages, so when you understand these concepts well, you can easily switch between languages.
Variables are containers to store data like numbers and texts. For example,
x = 5Here, x is a named variable that stores the value 5.
Learn more about Python Variables.
Conditional statements allow us to create programs that behave differently under different conditions. For example,
if age >= 18:
print("You can vote.")
else:
print("You cannot vote.")Learn more about Python Control Flow.
Loops allow us to repeat a block of code multiple times. For example, if you have to print a text 100 times, you can use a loop instead of typing the text 100 times.
count = 1
while count <= 100:
print("Print this 100 times")
count = count + 1Learn more about Python Loops.
Functions help us divide our program into smaller chunks to make it easier to use and understand. For example, to create a program that can draw circles and rectangles and color them, we can use 3 functions:
1. function to create a rectangle
def create_rectangle():2. function to create a circle
def create_circle():function to color the shape
def color_shape():Learn more about Python Functions.
Data Types allow us to work with numerous datasets at once. For example, Python lists help us store multiple elements together and allow us to work with them.
odd_numbers = [1, 3, 5, 7]Learn more about Python Data Types.
Mastering fundamentals doesn't mean reading tutorials and watching two-hour-long YouTube videos. You have to understand the concept and the use case behind each concept.
Here are a few tips you can follow while learning fundamental concepts:
1. Learn the concept
First, learn each concept theoretically - read tutorials or course content. Understand WHAT and HOW behind every topic.
While learning Python variables in Programiz PRO, you will first learn about the explanation of variables. It will cover the WHAT part of the variable topic.
You will then learn to use the variables through syntax and examples, which covers the HOW part.
How - learn how to create variables
This way, you will have a clear understanding of what variables are and how to use them. Now, you can move to the next topic.
However, don't focus too much on memorizing the code. Focus on the logic and understand how the syntax actually works.
2. Practice and write code yourself
We have been saying this from the beginning: You cannot learn to code without writing code yourself. Once you understand each topic, practice by solving challenges related to the concepts.
After completing the variable concept, you can solve challenges and quizzes available in the Python Basics course.
These challenges will help you practice and test your understanding.
You will make lots of mistakes while solving challenges or quizzes.
Don't worry. That's normal. Try to understand why you made those mistakes.
If you make a mistake in solving quizzes in Programiz PRO, you will get a hint with each option. Read those hints and try to solve the problem again.
The goal here is to write code yourself. Do this for every concept you encounter. If you are just reading the course without practicing yourself, you are only getting a false feeling of accomplishment.
So, make it a habit to write the code yourself whenever you come across an example. And, if you are enrolling in online courses, choose the one that provides hands-on learning and forces you to write code.
This is the hard way but the right way to learn Python.
Solving challenges and quizzes will help you revise individual fundamental concepts. The next thing you need to do is to combine everything and build projects.
With projects, you will understand how to implement theoretical knowledge in practice. You will surely make some small mistakes, like
These mistakes will make you go crazy. But once you start fixing those errors, you will have a real-world experience of how coding works.
While building projects, make sure you are doing it the right way. If you go to the Rock Paper Scissors project in Programiz PRO, you can see a step-by-step approach to building projects.
1. First, you will have to understand the entire workflow of the game.
2. Based on the workflow, you can create a project description.
These two steps are important while creating the logic of the project. Next, you need to figure out the way you approach the project.
Programming is all about problem-solving, and approaching the problem the right way is as important as finding the solution. So, don't directly jump to writing code; take some time to understand the problem and overall scope of the project.
One of the best ways to solve a problem is to break the problem into smaller subproblems. This will reduce the complexity of the problem, and you can now tackle one problem at a time.
Based on our project description, we can subdivide the Rock Paper Scissors game into:
With all this information, it will be much easier for us to start the project. This process of defining the overall scope and roadmap is what we call Building a Thought Process.
Once you complete the project, make changes to your code and see how the output reacts. You can provide the wrong input to the code and see how your code reacts.
Play with your code and make as many changes as you want. Remember, the goal is to understand how the code reacts to each change.
So far, we have talked about learning, practicing, building, and repeating - the positive aspects of learning Python.
Now, let's talk about Errors.
In Programiz, we have discovered two patterns of how people deal with errors:
Pattern 1: You are solving a challenge, and you discover errors. You tried to make changes to your code but encountered other errors. You then leave the challenge, move to a new one, and complete the course.
Pattern 2: You are solving a challenge, and you discover errors. Like before, you try to make changes and encounter other errors. Now you repeat the same process until you either solve the error or become frustrated with it.
Among the two groups, we have found that most of the people who fall under Pattern 1 struggle later in their careers.
If you think for a second, it's obvious, right?
Programming is all about solving problems, and you can't succeed if you are not putting effort into understanding errors and solving them.
So, we highly recommend you fix the error. Here are some steps you can follow to fix errors:
If you are still not able to solve the issue, you can search on Stackoverflow or Google. However, a better approach in the current scenario will be to get help from AI tools like sensAI.
For example, suppose you write this code
def add_numbers(n1, n2)
result = n1 + n2
print("The sum is", result)
number1 = 5
number2 = 6
add_numbers(number1, number2)If you run this code inside the Programiz PRO compiler, you will get an error message.
First, try to understand why you get the error and fix your code.
But as a beginner, it will be a bit difficult to understand the error. In that case, you can use sensAI.
However, don't just copy-paste the fixed code. Read the entire explanation and understand why you get that error.
Compare both the error code and the fixed code. Here, you have missed the colon, which is a small mistake anyone can make.
But, now you have spent so much time exploring this error, you are less likely to make this error in the future.
Don't give up on errors. It's okay to not understand errors; that's a sign you are progressing and trying something new. Google your issues and interact with online communities.
Programiz Recommends
While fixing errors, don't just directly jump to finding solutions. Spend a minimum of 5 minutes trying to solve the error on your own. This way, you will at least understand the error message.
This is a crucial step in your programming journey because no matter what course you enroll in, there is a limitation on how much you can learn on your own.
At some point, you have to start working on real work and real projects that people pay to use.
So, try to get an internship or job as early as possible. Early jobs will help you speed up your learning because:
Here's how you can get early jobs:
1. Build your portfolio
As mentioned before, create as many real-world projects as possible. Not just that, host your project on GitHub.
Create your GitHub profile, and store all of your projects there. If you don't know anything about GitHub, visit Git & GitHub Tutorials for Beginners.
Tips:
2. Gain Certification
While opting for online courses for your learning, go for courses that provide certifications. However, ensure that those certifications are valid and add value to your profile.
The Become a Python Master certification from Programiz is only provided once you complete the following 5 courses.
During the start of your career, certifications are the only thing you can showcase to your potential employer to prove your expertise.
Apart from the step-by-step process, here are a few tips you can follow to make your Python learning effective.
You can read all the tutorials and complete all the courses, but you won't come closer to mastering Python if you don't write code yourself.
If you have a habit of reading multiple tutorials and watching multiple videos on the same topic, you are in tutorial hell. Stop there and start writing code. Just create a small program to add two numbers.
You don't have to memorize all the syntax. Just understand what each syntax does, you can always search for them online. Even the most experienced developer doesn't remember all the syntaxes, they just Google them.
Instead, your focus should be on building the logic to solve the problem. Try to logically solve the problem before actually starting to solve it.
Googling is an important skill used by professional Python programmers almost every day. Your googling skills can determine how quickly you can solve a problem.
Don't be ashamed about using Google. You can't memorize every single thing about Python and coding.
Just figure out what needs to be done, you can always search for how to do it.
Don't code for 10 hours one day and become idle for the next 3/4 days. Code daily, do it for just an hour but do it daily.
And don't give up if some error arises. Always try to solve the error no matter how long it takes.
Take a break from time to time. Have fun every now and then to declutter your mind. Remember you are here for the long run, so enjoy the process.
Don't hesitate to ask for help from your seniors or online communities. The coding community is one of the best communities, so don't think that it's a small silly issue, just ask.
Now with the rise of AI tools, it's so much easier to ask questions and get answers.
The recent advancement in AI has made AI tools so much more reliable for learning Python. Try to use these tools to explain your code, identify errors, understand error messages, and fix code.
Some popular AI tools are ChatGPT, sensAI, and Copilot.
There will come a time when you will question your decision to learn Python. No matter how much you desire to code, you will encounter this.
During that phase, having access to like-minded people definitely helps. They can help you overcome the phase and provide guidance to move forward.
Who knows, you may find your co-founder in those communities.
You can also ask for feedback on your code and provide feedback on theirs - the best thing about the Python community.
For Python communities, we suggest you either search on Discord or Reddit. They have some of the best communities in the industry.
Search for Python communities, read some of the popular posts, and if you like the responses on the post, you can join them.
With so many options, it's difficult to identify the best resource. Listing all the resources here doesn't make sense because it will just confuse you. Remember, the goal of this guide is to provide you with a specific pathway to coding.
Finding the best resource is very subjective, and it depends on the individual's learning style. So, let's find the right resource for you.
If you need a proper pathway and enjoy a hands-on approach to coding, Programiz PRO is the right resource for you.
With PRO, you can enroll in the Python Learning Path - a career path that guides you from scratch to advanced concepts.
The learning path comprises multiple courses for
Similarly, each course teaches you Python with
All courses are available through a single subscription. You can access all the courses and features by signing up for a trial (with no cost).
Apart from Programiz, here are other resources you can look for:
Courses and resources play an important role while learning Python, so make sure you choose the right resource as per your learning style.
Considering different factors, it can take around 3 - 6 months to learn Python from scratch. However, after 2 months of learning, we highly recommend you start looking for a job or internship.
If you want to understand different factors that influence the timeframe of learning Python, visit the blog, How long does it take to learn Python?
The shor answer is YES. However, there are a few tings you need to consider if you are learning Python on your own.
First of all, choose a proper pathway and a learning style you want to adopt. Our suggestion is to go for a hands-on approach that encourages you to write code on your own.
Have a goal to land a job in Python. You don't have to do the job, just have a goal. It will boost your confidence for the future.
After learning Python, you can apply for the following jobs:
At Programiz, we always recommend starting with Python if anyone is not sure about where to start. Here are some of the reasons why Python is an excellent first language:
While having a pathway to learn Python definitely eases your journey, the best way to learn is by practicing and writing code yourself. And that's what we have been emphasizing throughout this guide and through our courses.
Now for the next step, we recommend you try Programiz PRO - it's free to try and provides you with a hands-on approach to learning Python.