How Do I Start Learning Python?

  • Post last modified:11 October 2024
  • Post category:Blog / Tech Skills
  • Reading time:39 mins read

Are you curious about Python?, the popular programming language changing industries? You might wonder, “How do I start learning Python and unlock its potential?” I’ll try my best to guide you to start your  learn Python journey from scratch. You’ll gain valuable tech skills that are in demand worldwide.

start learning python
Python Programming Language

Find What Motivates you:

The most important question to answer first is why do I want to learn python? 

Find what motivates you, Python is a popular programming language that’s used for many things like building websites, creating games, making apps, or working with data. It’s simple to read and write, which makes it a great first language to learn.

Many jobs today require knowledge of programming, and learning Python can open the door to new opportunities in the future.

Pick an area or two that you’re interested in, and stick with them- you’ll be developing quite a few projects in the areas.

Think about why you want to learn Python. Do you want to build a game? Maybe you want to create your own website or work with data. Setting a goal will help you stay motivated.

For example, if you love math, you might enjoy learning how to use Python for data science. If you love designing, you might be interested in using Python to create apps or websites.

Here are some sample areas, but feel free to add your own:

– Websites
– Mobile apps
– Games
– Data science/Machine learning

Learn Some basic Python Syntax

Unless you know the basic syntax, it’s hard to implement anything. That said, don’t spend too long on this.

Start with the basics of Python: variables, loops, functions, and conditions. It’s important to practice a lot and make sure you understand each concept

Some resources that can help you:

Coursera – Google certified courses available on this platform. you can check python basics course here.
Python documentation – the tutorials on the main python site.
Python for Beginners by Microsoft (Free YouTube course)

I learned Python from a Udemy course called 100 Days of Code. I really liked this course because it covered everything from the basics to building games, websites, and data analysis. Honestly, I did complete the course in 200 days 😉, but I did learn everything I needed. I found web development the most interesting, and from that day on, I decided to focus on working with websites!

Create Projects in Your Chosen Area

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, start working on simple projects in the area you’re interested in.
If you want to build websites, try creating a small website using Python frameworks like Flask or Django.
If you’re into games, you can try building simple games using Pygame, turtle.
For data science, start analyzing basic datasets, Learn to use libraries like numpy, pandas, matplotlib, scikit etc.

Some Resources for project-based learning:
1. Games
CodeAcademy (walks you through making a couple of simple games)
Pygame (the python library for making games, it has a good list of tutorials)
Making games with pygame (this book looks like a great way to learn python by making games )

2. Websites
Flask Tutorials – the official flask (simple python web framework) tutorial.
How To Tango With Django 1.7 – a guide to using django (more complex python web framework)

3. Mobile Apps
Kivy guide – Kivy is the tool that lets you make mobile apps with python. They have a guide on how to get started.

4. Data Science /Machine Learning
Scikit-learn documentation – Scikit-learn (the main machine learning library for python) has some great documentation and tutorials.
Python for Data Analysis – written by the author of a major python data analysis library (pandas), it’s a good introduction to analyzing data in python.

Work on Projects on Your Own

Now, it’s time to create your own projects from scratch. Choose something small to start with, like a personal blog or a basic calculator. As you keep building more projects, you’ll get better. Working on your own projects helps you learn how to solve real problems using Python.

My first project was Developing Pong Game . It didn’t end up looking pretty, but it started me on the journey to learning python.

The key is to pick something and do it. If you get too hung up on picking the perfect project, there’s a risk that you’ll never make one.

Pong game Project
My First Pong Game Project

You Can Find Some Resources for project ideas:
freeCodeCamp Python Projects (Ideas for beginner projects)
GitHub (Find projects from others and contribute)

Start Working on Harder Projects

Once you’re confident with your basic projects, challenge yourself with harder ones. You can build a bigger app, a more complex game, or analyze larger datasets. The more you push yourself, the better you’ll get. Remember, learning programming is all about practice!

Some Resources for advanced projects:
Real Python Projects (Advanced Python project tutorials)

High-Income Tech Skill

Python developers are in high demand. They earn impressive salaries across various industries. In the United States, the average Python developer salary is around $120,000 per year.

Experienced professionals can earn even more. This makes Python a valuable skill for a rewarding and stable career.

Python is not just a high-income skill. It’s also key in web development and data science. These fields are growing fast, offering exciting career paths. Python is used to create dynamic websites and web applications. It’s also a top choice for data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence projects.

Overview: Job opportunities for python developer

Final Thought

Learning Python is like learning any other skill—it takes time, practice, and patience. Follow these steps, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. With the right resources and determination, you can become great at Python!

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